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VOLUME XIX - 1888-1938
of Saint John Bosco

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FATHER EUGENIO CERIA
FATHER EUGENIO CERIA (1870 · 1957)
already enjoyed the reputation of a dis-
tinguished scholar, author, and editor when
in 1929 Father Philip Rinaldi, Superior
General, asked him to continue the publi-
cation of the Biographical Memoirs, the
monumental work begun by Father John
Baptist Lemoyne. Father Ceria's qualifica-
tions had been enhanced by his personal
contact with Don Bosco during his forma-
tive years as a novice and a student of
Philosophy at San Benigno Canavese and
Valsalice. Don Bosco con Dio, published
in 1930 and now considered his master-
piece, is a penetrating and inspiring study
of his spiritual father.
By systematic and persevering effort Father
Ceria brought the Biographical Memoirs
to completion in 1939, his contribution
being Volumes XI-XIX. Other works fol-
lowed. Wh i le compiling the Annali della
Societa Salesiana in four large volumes
(1941-51), he published biographies of St.
Mary Mazzarella, the Venerable Father
Michael Rua, the Servants of God Father
Andrew Beltrami and Father Philip Rinaldi,
and many other outstanding Salesians.
Though advanced in age, he undertook the
collection and editing of the Epistolario di
S. Giovanni Bosco, in four volumes, two of
which were published before his death,
which occurred on January 21, 1957 at
the age of 86.

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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. Eugenio Ceria, S.D.B.
AN AMERICAN EDITION
TRANSLATED
FROM THE ORIGINAL ITALIAN
Volume XIX
1888-1938
SALESIANA PUBLISHERS
New Rochelle, New York
2003

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IMPRIMI POTEST: Very Rev. Patrick Angelucci, S.D.B.
Provincial
New Rochelle, NY
25 March 2003
Solemnity of the Annunciation
Copyright © 2003 by the Salesian Society, Inc.
Library of Congress Catalog Number 65-3104 rev.
ISBN 0-89944-019-3
All Rights Reserved.
Manufactured in the United States of America
FIRSTEDffiON

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1llehicateh
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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Chis VOLUmE 15 bEblC~CEb
TO THE MEMORY OF MY PARENTS:
DELFINA ANTONUTTI AND PAOLO ZULIANI.
THEY HELPED ME DISCOVER GOD'S PLAN IN MY LIFE.
THEY BLESSED ME WHEN, AS A CHILD, I LEFT
BEAUTIFUL FRIULI IN 1938 FOR PIEDMONT;
THEY BLESSED ME WHEN AS A YOUNG MAN I LEFT ITALY
IN 1949 FOR THE USA;
THEY HELPED ME LOVE AND FOLLOW DON BOSCO
AS A SALESIAN PRIEST.
FOREVER GRATEFUL
FR. VINCENT VINICIO ALDO ZULIANI, S.D.B.

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ix
Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .xi
Preface ..........................................xiii
Chapter 1 (Epicedia) Funeral Eulogies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Chapter 2 How the Ordinary Process Began
for Don Bosco's Beatification and Canonization ..... 21
Chapter 3
From the Ordinary Process in Turin
to the Roman Decree That Declared Don Bosco
Venerable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Chapter 4 From the Apostolic Process
to the Decree on the Heroicity of Don Bosco . . . . . . . 51
Chapter 5 The Miracles for Don Bosco's Beatification......... 73
Chapter 6 The "Tuto" Decree ........................... 95
Chapter 7 The Solemn Identification of Don Bosco's Body .... 106
Chapter 8 Don Bosco's Beatification in Rome .............. 117
Chapter 9 The Transferral of Don Bosco's Body ............ 153
Chapter 10 Echoes of the Beatification
in the Words of the Holy Father, Pius XI.......... 182
Chapter 11 The Cause Is Resumed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Chapter 12 The "Thto" and the Consistories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Chapter 13 The Canonization ........................... 237
Chapter 14 Events That Occurred in Rome
After the Canonization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Chapter 15 Echoes of the Canonization
in the Pronouncements of the Pope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Chapter 16 The Feast of Don Bosco's Canonization in Turin .... 300
Chapter 17 Some Particular Celebrations
in Honor of Don Bosco, the Saint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Chapter 18 The Fiftieth Anniversary of Don Bosco' s Death. . . . . 343
Appendix of Documents ................................ 361
Index
......................................... 432

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xi
lNCRObUCClON
Volume XIX of the Biographical Memoirs does not deal directly with
the sayings and deeds of Don Bosco, but rather, with the sayings and deeds
of several people on and about Don Bosco.
The sworn statements on Don Bosco's heroic virtues are awe-inspiring.
The identical detailed information on how the beatification and canoni-
zation of Don Bosco came about, as well the celebrations connected with
both, is not only interesting, but, most of all, is edifying and uplifting. The
message conveyed by the entire volume is to the point:
WE NEED NOT BASK IN THE SUNSHINE
OF DON BOSCO'S GLORY
BUT, RATHER, MOVE ON
ALONG THE TRAIL BLAZED BY DON BOSCO'S
ENTERPRISING SPIRIT.
The speeches found in this volume and delivered, on several occasions
by so many people on behalf of Don Bosco, could be 'literally' translated,
as someone would have expected, to give them their original flavor. This
is the reason for this (as someone might say) 'welcome' departure.
A translator is often called upon to divide words, to combine them, to
drop some of them or to rearrange them, only to make sure that the original
meaning is adhered to. Many of the Italian speeches of this volume are
characterized by having one main clause with an unending series of depen-
dent clauses that obscure the very meaning they try to convey.
I have done my best to cut some of these unending dependent clauses
and reduce them to something more understandable and simple. I have to
confess that this task has not been easy and I have not been always success-
ful. I beg to be forgiven!
All languages follow different rules. This is the reason why there
cannot be word-for-word translations, except in rare cases. I have been
confronted with situations where I had to make a decision on how to use
different words and different sentences to convey the original meaning
desired by the speaker. I hope to have been successful. However, people
more knowledgeable than I am, when called upon to compare the English
version vs. the Italian text, will find some lacunae. Also for this, I'd like
to be forgiven. The basic meaning has been kept!

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xii
Introduction
But all in all, the reader of this volume will come to know how much
Don Bosco was admired, praised, venerated and prayed to, by so many
people, the world over. May the tributes given to Don Bosco become an
inspiration for all of us to follow his footsteps and 'forge ahead ... always
at the vanguard of progress!'
Sincere thanks to Mrs. Jo Ann Donahue for her computer work, to Fr.
Francisco Javier Aracil, SOB, editor and head of Salesiana Publishers of
New Rochelle, N.Y.
Fr. Vincent Vinicio Aldo Zuliani, SOB

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xiii
Jrrfarr
This volume is more for posterity than for my contemporaries, most
of whom more or less, witnessed a great many of the events herein narra-
ted, or were adequately informed about them by the press. The events related
to Don Bosco' s Cause of Beatification, the festivities connected with it, the
triumph of his Canonization, are still vivid recollections in the minds and
hearts of us all. Even the circumstances, which distinguished the celebra-
tions of the fiftieth anniversary of his death are fairly well known. Yet it
was thought both fitting and advisable that the main events and more out-
standing features that, for half a century, contributed to enhance Don Bosco's
glory, be incorporated in a volume for those who are to come after us.
We still love to call our Hero by that simple name-Don Bosco-just
as we used to, and just as we heard him called everywhere. In those days,
that name told us so many things that the sound of it still recalls to our
minds today and rekindles in our hearts an infinite number of tender
sentiments. It is only natural that in the course of time, as these memories
slowly fade away, together with the men who cherish them, the luminous
figure of the canonized Saint, whose heavenly patronage is invoked, and
whose deeds, now consecrated in history, are universally admired, will
irrevocably take the place of the familiar image of a beloved Father.
Yet, already now that the cult of St. John Bosco is not inferior either
by extension or intensity to the cult granted to other outstanding Saints
throughout the Church, we have every reason to believe that in time his
devotion will grow and spread, instead of dwindling down or fading away.
The reason is that this devotion is deeply rooted in people's hearts and
minds. We should also add that the Saint himself is the one who, contributes
directly to its growth, as he generously responds and intercedes on behalf
of the faithful who invoke him. As a matter of fact, from all parts of the
world reports of numerous and truly exceptional graces granted because
of his powerful intercession are continually coming in. God, Who entrusted
a worldwide mission to Don Bosco and Who visibly helped him while he
labored to fulfill it, still continues to support the works that he founded and
bequeathed to his spiritual sons.
Don Bosco already occupies a conspicuous place in history, too. We
may be sure that, as the passage of time makes it easier for us to evaluate
the important role he played within the Church and Society, most people
will appreciate more fully the great stature of his multifaceted personality,

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xiv
Preface
and gauge the proper value of his religious and civil activity. This is
confirmed by the fact that year after year, publications on Don Bosco have
increased so rapidly that there is no indication that they will slow down
or come to a halt in the near future. Actually, this is only the beginning;
for it was quite recently that people began to pay serious attention to all
the many aspects of his life and activity. Posterity alone will tell!
What may turn out to be a surprise to many is the fact that, in
comparison with other causes of beatification and canonization, Don
Bosco's cause lasted so long. These causes are very complex matters, as
they rely on complicated mechanisms. Their regular and continued
rhythm hinges on an infinite number of interior and exterior ingredients.
The more complex the life lived by the Servant of God, the more
complications will eventually show up. The cause of Don Bosco was not
the cause of St. Teresa of the Child Jesus, for example, who lived her
short life within the restricted cloister of nuns; nor was it in any way like
that of Mother Cabrini, whose life, although quite full of activity, yet
bore the signs of an ordinary pattern. In his long career, not only did Don
Bosco embrace the whole world with his personal activity, either directly
or indirectly, but he also had contacts with an infinite number of people
for widely diversified reasons, in an era of radical transformations, both
political and social. This obliged him to take stands unknown in the past
and act as a trailblazer on paths previously untrodden. In any cause, these
widely varied elements would constitute a tangled skein of events to be
unraveled, evaluated and judged. Even more so this occurs when a stead-
fast opposition obstructs the proceedings, as unfortunately happened in Don
Bosco's case. Haud ignota loquor [I speak of no unknown things].
Yet Divine Providence ordained matters in such a way that, at the
opportune time, a Pope would put an end to all procrastination attempts,
since he had known Don Bosco personally, and had felt great admiration
for him.
In a period of seventeen years, Pius XI approved the cult of 17 beatified
persons, and in 42 beatification ceremonies he elevated more than 496
Servants of God to the honor of the altar. He also conferred the supreme
glory on 34 Saints in 17 canonization ceremonies. An exceptional number,
indeed!
Yet there can be no doubt that the cause of beatification and canoni-
zation for Don Bosco was the most arduous of them all. But the Pope never
lost sight of it; indeed, he seemed to take a saintly passionate interest in
all that transpired. This does not mean that he interfered in any way that

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Preface
xv
would upset the normal running of the procedures by attempting to accel-
erate its rhythm, for this would not have been compatible with the meticu-
lous care usually devoted to such very delicate matters. But he did
intervene when it was a question of overcoming obstacles that would only
lead to superfluous procrastination, or was merely a question of renewing
the intensity of the proceedings. In all probability, the cause would still be
floundering now, were it not for the interest of the last of the four Popes
under whose reign the proceedings developed: Pius XI!
Now that we have come to the end of these Biographical Memoirs, we
want to intone a hymn of heartfelt thanksgiving to Divine Providence, also
on behalf of him who laid their foundations, and who made available such
a rich documentation on the works of this providential Saint, and in a way
made it possible for all the evidence to be collated in good time and to be
recorded, once for all, in nineteen volumes.
The spiritual sons of our Saintly Father, eager to have an intimate
knowledge of his life, and to have their hearts attuned to his spirit, will
come to drink, from these memoirs as from a generous and flowing source.
To this same source shall ever come all those who, in the future, may wish
to speak or write about him, and who do not want to give an incorrect idea
of the spirit that constantly guided and supported him in his activities and
sufferings.
We are convinced that there will be others, who will write books of
greater literary merit about Don Bosco. We, however, did not aim at
achieving this objective. Indeed, if we may be allowed to voice a modest
personal wish, we would hope that no one would ever give way to the
temptation of trying to build some kind of literature around St. John Bosco.
Not that Don Bosco's heroic virtues and bold undertakings might not offer
to a well-prepared writer an immense artistic inspiration; but we are too
well aware of what this means.
It is a wonderful thing to be able to contemplate Don Bosco just as he
really is, just as his life story reveals him to us, without trying to embellish
him further with artificial trappings!
Last year, someone wrote: "St. John Bosco appears to us like one of
the finest specimens of human nature ever to have been transfigured by
grace. At times he seems so close to us, yet at the same time he makes us
aware, very gently, how far he outdistances us." 1
Turin, January 17, 1939
1 P. Brou in Etudes, October 5, 1938, pp. 122-23.

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Qlqnpter 1
(Epicedia) Funeral Eulogies
Don Bosco's posthumous glory began the day of his death [in die obi-
tus] or we might now say on the day of his birth [in die natali] for when
the Saints are born to the glorious life of Heaven they attain an earthly
glory, which is dazzling, as well as, boundless in space and time.
The last chapters of the previous volume showed us how Don Bosco' s
death immediately opened up the road to triumph. The present volume has
as its specific goal that of measuring, in all its height, Don Bosco's lumi-
nous ascent to this triumph and to single out, by fastening to the screen
of history, its most salient moments, the ones vibrant with splendor.
We shall begin with the funeral services that followed his interment.
Never before, had so many unanimous eulogies been proclaimed in so
many parts of the world over the grave of a simple priest, as they were over
the grave of Don Bosco. From Piedmont to Calabria, from Sardinia to
Sicily, even to the tiny island of Pantelleria that lies isolated in the Medi-
terranean; in the cities of Trent, Gorizia, Triest, and throughout the Istrian
peninsula; in Jerusalem and in Quebec; in the republics of South America,
nowhere was a place to be found which did not bewail the tragic loss.
From a thousand different places all over the globe there came a
unanimous chant of praise for his virtue, charity and zeal. Two themes were
insistently repeated in all these funeral orations: the feeling that Don Bosco
seemed closer now than ever before because of his greater power of
intercession before God, and the anticipated certainty that the Church
would elevate him one day to the glory of the Altar. Hence, there was a
prevailing belief that if expiatory prayers were offered up for him, it was
solely because this was an ecclesiastical routine procedure, and because
the deceased himself would have wanted it that way. However, it was
believed that he really did not need them. One orator expressed this thought
very brilliantly when he said that no one who had lived in such intimate
and loving union with God during his mortal life could be ever separated,
even for a single moment, from Him in the hereafter. 1
We would like to add that it was in these circumstances that anyone
could have seen what the Association of Cooperators meant, and how
1 Father Perotti, Pastor of Moncrivello (Salesian Bulletin, August, 1888)

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2
The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
valuable it was. Except for those localities where there were Salesian
houses, which were responsible for inspiring the local Cooperators, it was
the Cooperators everywhere who sponsored and organized funeral services
with great solemnity, attended by vast crowds, and usually accompanied
by a public eulogy of the deceased. In all this activity, the Cooperators
displayed a valiant esprit de corps that obviously was no mere outward
display, but a genuine manifestation of the vitality of that pious association
which had been so dearly loved and championed by Don Bosco. Facing
such a display, one could not help but admire the current of devoted
affection that had been established between the beneficent Apostle ofYouth
and the army of his benefactors.
In a fast-moving, necessarily brief and limited survey, we shall only
linger on localities where something oftrue significance emerged regarding
the figure of Don Bosco: the man and the Saint. Moreover, we shall give
preference to those people who had known Don Bosco, had talked with
him, or had some specific contact with him, since the others would be unable
to help us enhance our knowledge of the Servant of God with any personal
information. We shall proceed in an orderly fashion, following a zigzag
geographical line that can be traced from Turin all the way to Valparaiso
(Chile).
EVENTS THAT OCCURRED IN THE THREE GREAT
CHURCHES BUILT BY DON BOSCO HIMSELF
Among the churches built by Don Bosco, three were larger, and more
monumental in appearance than the others: namely, the two churches in
Turin dedicated respectively to Mary Help of Christians and to St. John the
Evangelist, and the Sacred Heart Church in Rome.
The funeral ceremonies had a special character all their own in these
churches, and this inspired the orators to examine more intimately the
personality and achievements of the deceased.
St. John's Church was chosen for the week after the funeral service.
Bishop John Cagliero was to have delivered the funeral eulogy, but as he
was prevented by a slight indisposition, Father John Bonetti took his place.
Without actually delivering a funeral eulogy properly so called, he spoke
to the congregation as he used to speak at the conferences of Salesian
Cooperators, since this talk coincided with the yearly conference of the
Cooperators for the feast of St. Francis of Sales. He could not have chosen
a better theme, and he was well prepared to deliver it in a fitting manner.

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(Epicedia) Funeral Eulogies
3
He applied to Don Bosco the words St. Paul' applied to himself, in his
epistle to the Christians of Corinth: "/ became all things to all men, that
I might save all" [Omnibus omnia factus ut omnes face rem salvos].2 The
significance of this application lies in the fact that the whole of Don
Bosco's personality is defined by those brief words: a man who became
all things to all men, in order that he might save them. Great, providential
lives are all alike. Even though multifaceted, their activity is channeled
entirely in one single direction. Only in such a way is the strength of a man
spent well and beneficially, for otherwise it would fritter away in too many
different directions.
Don Bosco wanted to save souls. He lived united to his apostolic
objective and aspired to nothing else. He heeded nothing else, no matter
what might have occurred or with whom he might come into contact, and
no matter what he might have undertaken. All his thoughts, words and
actions were concentrated on that one objective. It was here that one must
look to find the synthesis of all his extraordinary, and widely diversified
working strength.
Two Month's Mind funeral services were held in the Church of Mary
Help of Christians. The first was attended by the Cooperators, the second
by the past pupils of the Oratory, as a sad tribute of veneration and gratitude.
The Superiors had already given some thought to the question of who
would be the best qualified to speak of Don Bosco on the first of these most
solemn occasions. They had already considered it in the days that elapsed
between hi~ death and his burial. On February 4th, Father Michael Rua,
Bishop John Cagliero, Fathers Celestine Durando and John Bonetti called
on Cardinal Alimonda who had only just returned home from a health resort,
and asked for his advice about who Don Bosco' s successor might be. Then
Bishop John Cagliero, on behalf of the Superior Chapter, asked the Cardi-
nal to graciously deliver the funeral eulogy on Don Bosco's Month's Mind
Mass.
At first, His Eminence tried to get out of it saying that he would suffer
too much, or rather, that he would not be able to speak at length because
he would become emotional. It was suggested that his speech could be
printed and published for that date, so that the congregation might read it
without listening to it; or he could delegate someone else to read it aloud.
At any rate, the Congregation would be very proud to treasure such a
valuable document from one who had felt such great esteem and love for
its founder.
2 1 Cor 9:22.

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4
The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
In his goodness of heart, the Cardinal promised that he would dictate
a funeral oration. But what had appeared impossible because of the recent-
ness of the death and the anguish connected with it, became possible later
on due to the healing impact provided by time. He poured his great and
noble heart into the effort, as well as his great talent.3 He began his speech
quite abruptly, in the following manner:
"I know that never again will I be able to look upon my friend, that
never again will I be able to see your benefactor, 0 ye poor! Nor shall I
look on your Father, ye priests! His dear countenance has disappeared from
before my eyes; the shroud of death has enveloped him. Perhaps God will
extend a loving attention to his mortal remains. The earth will be benign
to him, and offer itself as a pillow to his weary head. Let us hope that this
be so, my children; let us hope that his blessed remains may be like an
incorruptible flower.
"Yet, whatever may occur, the grave has taken from us our friend, our
benefactor, our father. No longer do I see before me the priest, John Bosco,
as I so often saw him in this beloved spot.
"Yet God did not give us a heart solely to cry. He gave us a heart, a
mind, an imagination to replace tears with tender comfort; He gave us a
miraculous ability to bounce back, the ability to recreate within our mind,
our imagination and affection the images of those people who are with us
no more, so that we might vest them and color them as though they were
once again living people to behold with our eyes.
"Therefore, I intend to see once more my friend, my benefactor, my
Father; I intend to look again on John Bosco, and greet him. For without
this vision, I would feel too sad and desolate in this world.
"I must confess to you that I shall now look upon him with great
reverence. I could not say clearly why, but by taking him from us, by
concealing him from us, death seems to have surrounded him with some-
thing like a halo. Therefore, shall I look on him with greater respect than
before, though always with the same tender affection, and with the same
loving heart.
"Hearken unto me, dear children. I want to see Don Bosco among you
all, but not confined within these walls. From this place, I feel the need
3 Father Agostino of Montefeltro who was preaching in the cathedral during Lent, made the announcement
from the pulpit on February 29th: "The Month's Mind funeral service for your beloved Don Bosco will be cele-
brated tomorrow in the church of Mary Help of Christians, and Cardinal Archbishop will deliver the eulogy of this
great Man of Charity. It is therefore quite superfluous for me to preach tomorrow and I believe that you would all
be glad if I join you to listen to all that this Apostle did, and seek inspiration from his example."

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(Epicedia) Funeral Eulogies
5
to see him as he looks at places beyond here, as he projects his gaze far
and wide, as he projects his gaze to where you may happen to be, as he
personally visits with you wherever you may be found, as he works with
you, as he talks with you where he has already seen you, and he stretches
his hand towards you, where he has gathered so many of his children."
To quote a phrase uttered by Pius XI after a speech delivered by
Cardinal Pacelli on St. Vincent de Paul, the orator showed that Don Bosco
had given a touch of divinity to his century, because he had turned towards
God all of the inclinations, needs and undertakings of his time.
The 19th century was the era of pedagogy; yet its pedagogy was only
animated by a natural affection, which was limited and weak, or was a
pedagogy, which was regulated by science, which is full of prejudices. Don
Bosco added to natural affection the Religious element as its guide, and
to science he added charity.
The 19th century was the century of work and workers. But the work-
ing classes were led astray by scientific principles hostile to religion; they
took the wrong direction and paved the way for a social revolution. But
Don Bosco's trade students discovered nobility in work by following the
path of goodness found in Christian living. They grew up to be honest men
who loved law and order. That's the way Don Bosco gave a touch of
divinity to the workers' profession.
The 19th century was the century ofassociations: the world was flooded
with associations that accelerated the rhythm of social evolution. Yet it was
a blind, feverish process, both disruptive and threatening. Don Bosco gave
birth to three Salesian Associations: the Congregation of the Salesians, the
Congregation of the Sisters, and the Association of the Cooperators. Faith-
ful to fundamental, eternal principles, these Associations were able to wield
a beneficial influence over the more active spheres of Civil Society.
With the kind of pedagogy, Don Bosco exercised such an influence on
the boys that he 'stole their hearts.' He transformed the boys' spirits and
had them pursue virtue. He enlightened the boys' minds and had them
pursue knowledge. Religion gave strength to nature and charity provided
science with improvement. That's how Don Bosco gave a touch of Divinity
to the pedagogy of the century. That's the way Don Bosco gave a touch
of Divinity to the work of the Associations.
The 19th century was a century of colonial undertakings. A wide
difference separates the men who were sent out to barbaric uncivilized
countries by worldly powers, and the Salesian missionaries. The lay people

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
who brought civilization chose safe localities; when among the savage
tribes they exchanged merchandise, and bartered goods, which provided
material comforts for the savages. But they did nothing to liberate them
from their native vices, for they sought only to exploit their resources. The
Missionaries ofDon Bosco braved dangers, and carried the cross with them
as the badge of civilization, enduring every kind of privation in order to
save souls. This is the way by which Don Bosco gave a touch of Divinity
to the work of civilizing savage peoples."
The virtue that animated Don Bosco was charity, and charity endures
all things, believes in all possibilities to do good, hopes for everything from
Heaven, and bears with anything.
This was the backbone of the Cardinal's stirring oration.4 There are
two statements in that eulogy, which carry the value of an authentic per-
sonal testimony. The first concerns Don Bosco' s most characteristic virtue-
his unfaltering serenity. "Many a time I was astonished," the Cardinal said,
"when I thought about Don Bosco' s moral fiber: how he was always serene,
even-tempered in good times and bad as well; he was always unruffled. I
was amazed to perceive the degree of perfection he had reached (a hard
thing to reach, indeed); yet I was not really surprised, after all, because I
knew the source such perfection came from. He was never upset even when
he was living in the world because he had flung himself entirely into the
arms of God." 5
The other statement was in reference to another remarkable aspect of
Don Bosco's life: his attitude toward the Pope. This is what His Eminence
proclaimed: "The Pope was always uppermost in his thoughts; he loved
him like the apple of his eye. He was a joy and a treasure to Pius IX who
so often blessed him at the Vatican: he was a joy to Leo XIII who renewed
his apostolic blessing on him. In everything that he did, and in all that he
wrote, Don Bosco endeavored, with great steadfastness, to behave as his
love for the Vicar of Jesus Christ demanded. Don Bosco lay on his bed,
a prey to the fatal disease that killed him, at the end of last year. He was
surrounded by an anxious group ofhis sons and by friends and well-wishers
who were giving him their heartfelt sympathy. I felt an impulse of warm
affection, and almost a duty to call on him. I was about to go to Rome, but
I could not leave without seeing him, without his greeting, without hearing
the expression of his desires. I visited him at his bedside twice. On the last
4 John Bosco and His Century, Turin, Salesian Printing Works, 1888. As we shall see later, a Spanish trans-
lation of this book was printed in Buenos Aires.
5 Op. cit., p. 81.

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7
occasion, December 26th, I found him panting, exhausted. Yet he pressed
my hand, and with a feeble voice in which his whole soul seemed to vibrate,
he begged me to assure Leo XIII: that he had always loved and obeyed
him like a son, and that the whole of his Congregation was at the service
of the Holy See. With those words Don Bosco disclosed his will and
testament to me. But why should I use the verb 'disclosed'? All his public
and private life is known to have been for the entire world, his will and
testament for the Pope to hear." 6
A few days later, Don Bosco' s first sons gathered in that very same
church, around his bier. Who could express more fitting words than one
of their own number? It was Canon Ballesio, the Pastor of Montcalieri, who
addressed those fitting words. Rarely has any speech prepared for some
special occasion been more ideally attuned to its listeners. From the infinite
horizon envisaged by the speech, the visual outlook was now narrowed to
the focal point of the Oratory. Yet what a magical, almost cinematographic,
series of flashbacks it was. It represented one of the most original and most
delightful speeches ever delivered in connection with Don Bosco. The
orator portrayed his family life among his boys: in the confessional, in the
classroom, in the dining room, in the workshops, at recreation and on
walks.7 At a certain time, the orator repeated a question four times: "Who
was Don Bosco for us?" He then answered his own query, showing that
Don Bosco was for his sons a man of God and a religious man, a master
and a guide, leading young people to what is good, out of love for them;
an utterly unselfish man; and a man of great intelligence and genius. The
first answer contains this statement: "My! How many victims did he not
wrest from the clutches of vice with religious amiability, and how many
did he not restore back to a life of honor and virtue! For many of us he
acted like the angel announcing our ecclesiastical vocation. Hundreds of
laborers emerged from Don Bosco's Oratory, to go and work in the mysti-
cal vineyard of the Gospel, in an era of violent anti-religious revolt, when
the good ones were discouraged and the wicked were boldly triumphant.
I could say that Don Bosco possessed an instinctive love of the Saints, for
the Church, and for the Pope. That is the way Don Bosco trained his boys
to cherish such noble sentiments, and they confessed their faith boldly,
holding their heads up high." 8
6 Op. cit., p. 48.
7 Vita intima di Don Giovanni Bosco nel suo primo oratoria di Torino [Intimate life of Don John Bosco in
the first Oratory in Turin], Turin, Sal. Printing Works, 1888. French translation, Lille, Salesian Printing Works, 1889.
8 Op. cit., p. 20.

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
Bishop Manacorda delivered the funeral eulogy at the Sacred Heart
Church in Rome. He was then Bishop of Fossano and he had displayed
towards Don Bosco what almost amounted to a cult. The main message
of his eulogy was that, with the help of divine grace, Don Bosco prepared
himself to carry out the designs of Divine Providence, and with the power
of his charity he revealed himself as the great benefactor of the Christian
people.9 Here we have a page which is worth keeping. 10 "Just as his mind
could penetrate and his heart, with the power of his charity, could draw and
bring about an irresistible attraction, so his eye could have an influence on
both the powers of the mind and heart. With one measured, calm, com-
pletely serene glance, he could easily take hold of the thoughts of other
people's minds. And whenever he wished, with the same power, to be
understood, nothing else was needed for an understanding but that glance.
At times a mere inflection of his voice, a phrase, a smile, followed by his
steady look, was equivalent to a question, to an answer, to an invitation,
to an entire speech. One might have said that for Don Bosco, the spoken
word was little less than something extra. He hardly seemed to need the
spoken word to be able to communicate with others. All his senses and
limbs seemed admirably coordinated, and subjected to his reasoning abil-
ity. Truly was his body the servant of his soul, and his life hidden in God
appeared displayed in his thoughts and heart. Don Bosco was all thought
and love. Our beloved Don Bosco did not show either surprise or haste or
impetuous impulse; everything about him was unfaltering calmness; his
behavior was always an even one; his concerns found an answer with
perfect ease. He was able to cast his troubles unto the Lord, and in Him
he found his support, convinced that God never allows the just to forever
flounder." 11
This eulogy had an unexpected success. After it was printed, it hap-
pened to be brought to the attention of Leo XIII. Now it so happened that
the Bishop was attending a public audience, and as the bishop tried to
conceal himself by standing far away from the Pope, so as not to attract
attention. The Pope noticed him, and had him come closer and told him
that he had read his eulogy and that he liked it, and that he shared the
opinion he had expressed in his eulogy, namely, that Don Bosco would one
day be raised to the glory of the Saints.
9 Rome, Befani, 1888.
10 Page 20.
11 The learned Latin scholar, Father Angelini, a Jesuit. composed four polished Latin inscriptions for the
occasion (see Appendix Document 1).

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FUNERAL SERVICES HELD IN OTHER ITALIAN CHURCHES
Many towns and villages all over Italy celebrated the solemn funeral
services for Don Bosco' s soul during the Month's Mind Mass. The Bulletin
listed all these localities in two long reports. But the listing, which began
in May 1888 and continued to January 1889, was far from complete. Let
us now review some of the more significant reports among the many
referred to us.
Father Piano, another former pupil from the heroic days of the Oratory,
and now Pastor in the church of the Great Mother of God in Turin, gave
a eulogy in the stately church built by Cardinal delle Lanze,12 at San
Benigno Canavese. Father Piano first attended the Oratory in 1854. "At that
time there were about a hundred of us boys. Don Bosco had to provide food
for us, and even clothing for many of us."
After graduating from high school, Father Piano entered the Chieri Semi-
nary, eighteen years after Don Bosco's seminary days. But, he affirmed,
"The memory of Don Bosco was still alive." On one of his frequent visits
to the Servant of God, something happened which at this time inspired the
theme of his eulogy.
He had been ushered into Don Bosco's roomjust as two French ladies
were taking leave of him, after an audience. Don Bosco had handed to both
of them a picture of Mary Help of Christians.
With the easy familiarity habitual to all of Don Bosco's boys when in
his presence, Father Piano had asked if he, too, might have a picture. In
fact, he had even picked one up from the desk, and had handed it to Don
Bosco with the request that he write something on it. Don Bosco did so,
and this is what he wrote: "Esto mitis et patiens et Dominus Jesus dabit
tibi velle et posse. Cor tuum sit constanter super parvulos et egenos." 13
The orator then went on to speak of Don Bosco's gentle humility and
patience, and of his love for poor children.
In speaking about his humility, he told his listeners that not very long
before he had heard a holy and learned Piedmontese Bishop exclaim: "Don
Bosco must be very humble indeed, because all his undertakings are so
abundantly blessed!" Father Piano attributed his magnificent calmness and
his poise, even under the most distressful circumstances, to his humility.
In this regard Father Piano added: "In 1885, when Don Bosco, with the
12 This speech was not printed, but it is in our files.
13 Be meek, and patient and Our Lord Jesus will enable you to accomplish whatever you wish. May your
heart be always set on children, and on people who are in need.

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
generous assistance of a benefactor, Chevalier Cotta, was building the
second part of the house which was to connect the first house with the
Church of St. Francis of Assisi, we heard a terrific noise, around three
o'clock in the afternoon. What could it be? All the ceilings in the new part
of the building had collapsed. All of us boys were terrified, but we were
even more upset at the thought that this would have grieved our beloved
Father. But we were thoroughly mistaken.
"As soon as Don Bosco got back home, we clustered around him to
give him the terrible news. Do you think he changed expression? Not at
all. He merely turned his gaze heavenward, and said: 'Thank God. Thanks
to thee, my God, that the damage done is only material.' Then, turning to
us, he said: 'If you behave, God will help us rebuild it all over again.' And
so it happened."
As he was speaking of how Don Bosco loved youth, Fr. Piano made
the following digression: "At this point I would like to voice a wish of my
own. Whenever I see a picture of Don Bosco, I grieve because I do not
see him surrounded by boys. 'How can this be?' I ask myself. 'Don't they
say that he was a Father to thousands and thousands of boys? Did he not
live his whole life in their midst? Were not the boys dearer to his heart than
anything else? Was not this the mission that God entrusted to him, and did
he not fulfill it completely? Then why portray a father without his chil-
dren?' Did you ever see him, either on the staircase, in the playground, or
in the street, without being accompanied by a crowd of boys? Just as they
always represent the Venerable Joseph Benedict Cottolengo among the
poor, Don Bosco ought to be represented among the boys, so that everyone
would come to realize what the whole purpose of his life was. I cannot
picture him otherwise."
The diocese of Casale Monferrato felt a very special obligation to pay
tribute to Don Bosco's memory out of its devout and grateful esteem. It
was in that diocese that Don Bosco had opened his first school outside
Turin, namely, the School of Mirabello. Later he had transferred it to Borgo
San Martino in the same area, and there he had reaped a rich harvest of
vocations for the priesthood, besides providing the right atmosphere for
studies. Many diocesan priests were proud to have had their schooling in
Don Bosco's schools.
The most impressive of the funeral services was held in the main town
of the area, where the lovely church of St. Philip seemed best suited for
the occasion. The pastor of Rosignano, Msgr. Bonelli, who had known Don

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11
Bosco very well, 14 was the orator. He delivered his sermon simply and
quietly, just as Don Bosco himself had done twice from the same pulpit.
He described Don Bosco' s work in the light of the special mission given
him by God, Who had also given him the talents he needed for it. 15 The
Catholic newspaper16 which reported on the ceremony and the eulogy con-
cluded by saying: ''A parchment was interred with Don Bosco's remains
in his coffin, and on it was written: Bones bathed in tears, rest now in peace,
until the day dawns when the blast of angelic trumpets shall summon you
forth! Now I do not believe that his bones will wait for the trumpet before
rising from the grave. If our emotions do not blur our mind, we are truly
confident that the Church will rearrange all those bones by the altar of Mary
Help of Christians, and that Don Bosco' s name will be inscribed in the list
of Saints."
Canon Cherubin described Don Bosco as an Angel of Divine Provi-
dence and as the greatest personality of his time,17 while delivering his
eulogy in the Salesian church of the school at Magliano Veneta. "Humble
and generous, he never failed to meet with the designs of Divine Provi-
dence; he was rather its undisputed witness, its faithful ambassador, its very
active minister, as near to being an angel as any man can be. All alone,
without any human aid, he ventured into a boundless territory where the
harvest was inexhaustible. Bold as a hero, and ready for a sacrifice like a
martyr, he totally abandoned himself to Divine Providence."
"Save Youth, and through Youth save the world," that was Don Bosco' s
main thought. This was the theme of a eulogy developed by FatherAnthony
Rampazzo in the Carmelite church. 18
Bishop Rossi of Sarzana read out a noble eulogy in the collegiate
church of La Spezia. Don Bosco, the educator of the poor children of the
people, had triumphed over arrogant, humanitarian philosophy and over its
empty pedagogy, glorifying the pedagogical wisdom and virtue of the
Church. 19 Developing his theme further, the Bishop used such enlightening
strokes of his pen that not only now, but also in the future, they will be
read with delight, and the people will always enjoy them. Such was his
apostrophe to the meadows of Valdocco.20 "O meadows of Valdocco,
14 See Biographical Memoirs, Vol. VII, p. 107.
15 Casale, John Pane, publisher, 1888.
16 Gazzetta di Casale, March 10, 1888.
17 Turin, published by the Salesians, 1888.
18 Padua, published by the Seminary, 1888.
19 Sampierdarena, published by the Salesians, 1888.
20 Page 22.

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12
The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
formerly lonely and deserted, but now full of buildings, where thousands
of modest, hard-working, pious boys live. Formerly you were mute and
silent, but now you are resounding with the humming activity of work-
shops, joined by the chant of God's praises. How could I speak of you, 0
meadows, without singing the praises of the man who immortalized you
by linking his name with them? Did I not visit you in my time? Have I
myself not felt my heart filled with saintly thoughts, as I prayed under the
dome of Mary Help of Christians, who points out, from afar, and protects
with her solemn and powerful shadow the charitable miracles wrought by
Don Bosco? Have I myself not witnessed how mocking smiles faded away
on the lips of the rationalists and unbelievers, forced to admit their defeat,
and to acknowledge that charity triumphs over science, that the restoring
balsam for social ills can come from the altar more than from academies?
"O meadows, the man who made you famous is no longer with us. But
you, 0 meadows, will remain as a proof and a manifestation of his spirit,
and those who want to help the poor children of the working classes will
come to you, 0 meadows, to seek from you the inspiration needed for saintly
and courageous endeavors, to implore the heroism of sacrifice and love of
obscurity, once they shall have experienced the fullness of achievement."
Another very important statement is the following:21
"In stealing his earthly image from our gaze, Death has cast a new light
on his glorious, eventful life, and tore asunder the last veils which pre-
vented us from fully knowing him. While he was alive, much of his work
remained hidden, as though smothered under the glory of his name. But
now it is revealed in its entirety: a flourishing Institution existing in its own
right, and, animated by the spirit he had given it. It will not only prosper,
but will expand the objective of his mission, with new forms of charity,
as the times call for, enhancing the glory and merit of its Founder."
With another remark he brought out an evaluation of Don Bosco's role
in the world:22 "I personally firmly think, or rather I am sure, that the
appearance of Don Bosco in the latter part of our century stands as a ray
of light, as a benign gesture of a merciful God. In the thick darkness created
by a false philosophic doctrine regarding the true principles of mass educa-
tion, God indicated the path to be followed in order to heal the diseases
that now afflict Society, and thus ward off even greater evils which now
21 Page 33.
22 Page 37.

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13
threaten it. This path consists in nothing else than in teaching people the
catechism, with a spirit of loving and devoted kindness. The teaching of
catechism, embellished by the holy inventiveness of songs, festivities,
meetings, and of pious harmony, will envelope the child as with a climate
of holiness and lead him to love religion. The child will associate with it
the tenderest memories, which, in tum, will leave within the heart of the
child some faith impressions, which will never be erased."
The Bishop ended his eulogy with a brilliant thought:23 "I am not an
artist," he said, "but if I were, and if I were commissioned to raise a monu-
ment to this great priest, for the benefit of posterity, this is the way that I
would represent him. On top, I would place the cross; I would place the
cross as the symbol of sacrifice; on the right, Mary Help of Christians, who,
after Jesus, gave Don Bosco his greatest support; to his left, St. Francis of
Sales, whose gentleness he imitated, and for whom he named his Congre-
gation. Then, at the foot of the cross, I would depict the great man himself,
clutching the sacred trunk of the cross with his right hand, while with his
left, he beckons to the boys, to join him beneath the shade of the sacred
tree, where they would acquire new life. At the foot of the monument, I
would depict young Garelli, intent on carving on the memorial marble slabs
these words that are engraved on all hearts: To Don Bosco, with gratitude.
The Church and the Nation."
Bishop Giusti, who had been so cordial a host to Don Bosco at his
episcopal residence in Arezzo, willingly went to Florence to take the place
of the Archbishop, who was sick, for a pontifical ceremony. The renowned
writer, Father Mauro Ricci, Father General of the Pious Schools, wrote five
beautiful epigraphs for the occasion.24 The titular Bishop of Oropo, Bishop
Velluti Zatti, of the ducal family of San Clemente, who was a devoted
Florentine admirer of Don Bosco, delivered a eulogy vibrant with feeling,
and expanded on the life and works of the Servant of God.25
In the church of St. Florence, where Don Bosco had twice held meetings
for the Cooperators, a commemorative service was only a natural thing to
do. This is where the orator saw the revealing signs of Don Bosco's sanc-
tity:26 "When I look at the great figure of Don Bosco and his undertakings,
I recognize the sweet, noble features of saintliness: a stupendous fabric of
23 Page 39.
24 App. Doc. 2.
25 Turin, Salesian Publishing works, 1888.
26 Page 27.

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
strength, interwoven with meekness, prudence, simplicity, courage, timid-
ity; a blending of glory and humiliations; the protection offriends; the impla-
cable hostility of his adversaries; the total absence of funds and the amount
of riches so easily accumulated in order that he might do good. This is
exactly what reminds me about the lives of the Saints." In speaking of his
educational activity, the orator said:27 "He loved boys with the warmth,
intensity, and spirit of sacrifice typical of Christian love. In the art of edu-
cating them he was incomparable: he was equally against either doing too
much or doing nothing at all, just as his heavenly patron saint. He guided
them along that middle road which alone can lead to virtue. He was broad-
minded; he had a big heart, and he hated the pedantic approach that would
regulate life like a compass, or like clockwork."
Don Bosco's anniversary Mass was celebrated in St. Philip's church
in Catania. The eulogist was Fr. Piccollo, and his theme was "Don Bosco' s
effective love for Youth."28
Fr. Piccollo sent a copy of his printed eulogy to the former school super-
intendent, Mr. Rho, who was his cousin. This was the same Rho who had
created so many difficulties for Don Bosco in 1879. The old civil servant
was grateful for the gift, and as he thanked him, he also made a remark
of historic significance, and a personal statement.29
He regretted that no mention was made in the eulogy of Fr. Anthony
Cinzano, who was a fellow villager, and had been one of Don Bosco's first
teachers. He then went on: "Father Cinzano, who was the pastor and Vicar
Forain of Castelnuovo, was always devoted to the study of literature, and
very well versed in Latin literature. He had a complete collection of the
classics and, what is more, he read them, he studied them, despite his advanced
years. I remember that he would boast that Don Bosco had been one of
his pupils with some other boys of his parish; he had taught them during
the fall vacations, when he himself was only a cleric. I first met Don Bosco
in 1840, in the parish rectory of Castelnuovo; he was with Father Febbraro,
the late pastor of Orbassano, Fr. Allora, and several others with whom I
always kept a friendly relationship."
Mr. Rho used this reference to state that his friendship with Don Bosco
never stopped, not even during or after such events. If this was made pos-
sible, it was due to Don Bosco, whose charity never waned in the face of
bitter opposition, and once any conflict ended, he never gave any further
thought to it.
27 Page 40.
28 Turin, Salesian Publishing Works, 1889.
29 Pecetto, May 4, 1889.

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Mr. Rho ended his letter with these words: "May God grant that the
flaming Christian charity that inspired the late Don Bosco may live in his
followers, in order to honor and glorify their Founder. This is the sincere
hope of an old friend, a friend of that man to whom our entire country, and
the whole Christian world owes eternal gratitude."
FUNERAL SERVICES HELD IN HONOR OF DON BOSCO
IN FRANCE AND SPAIN
Grief over the death of Don Bosco was widespread in Spain, and even
more widely spread in France. This is confirmed by a great number of
letters. Many funeral services were held in both countries, even in places
where there were no Salesian schools.
When the Bishop of Nice came to know about Don Bosco's death, he
exclaimed: "What a loss! What grief for his sons, and for us all!"
There were many memories of him in Nice.
He had often gone to Nice, and every year around the month of
February or March, the Cooperators and friends would ask when Don
Bosco was going to return. They were waiting for him impatiently; they
greeted him with joy upon his arrival. Now, alas, they would never again
have the "joy of seeing his dear, mild, revered countenance which recalled
the features of His Divine Master. Never again would they hasten to ask
for encouragement or spiritual help which seemed to come out of him
spontaneously like rays of light." These words brought tears to the eyes
of all people who heard Msgr. Fabre, the Vicar General, read out the funeral
eulogy in the chapel of Don Bosco's Patronage, in the presence of the
Bishop. With rousing words, he magnified the importance ofthe Patronage,
the qualities of the Man, and the efficiency of his heirs.30
Three times did he pay personal tribute to Don Bosco's memory in the
course of his speech. Once, he referred to his humility: "Humility reigned
supreme in him. One could not even look at him without being profoundly
impressed." Then, he referred to his admirable self-control: "Everyone
must have noticed Don Bosco's inner serenity and tranquility which per-
meated his demeanor, and were clearly evidenced by his speech, his atti-
tude, his whole appearance. Who would ever have suspected that a man
of such evident serenity was actually overwhelmed by so many problems?
To me, this is the seal of a truly elect spirit, living in an intimate union with
God, and therefore above the anxieties of daily existence." He also referred
30 Nice, printing works of Patronage of St. Pierre, 1888.

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
to Don Bosco' s demeanor when giving audiences: "Who ever detected the
slightest traces of impatience, or the merest hint of haste, in his many daily
audiences? He was equally gracious to young and old. He listened to
whatever people chose to tell him, never seeming to be aware that a crowd
was waiting outside in the antechamber. When people saw how he paid
attention to everybody and allowed people to confide freely their problems
to him, they could only think that he had nothing else to do than concentrate
on what the person he happened to be with at the moment had to tell him.
This is typical of a disciplined mind, and it was for this reason that people
loved him."
Paris paid tribute to Don Bosco in the noble church of La Madeleine.
Don Bosco' s own church of St. Joseph, in Marseille, could not have ren-
dered a more affectionate, or a more triumphant, homage to his memory.
As for Spain, we shall limit our survey of services honoring Don Bosco
to only a few localities.
The saintly Bishop of Malaga, Bishop Spinola, who later became a
cardinal, delivered a vibrant eulogy on Don Bosco in our school at Utrera.
Unfortunately, we were unable to get hold of a printed copy of the eulogy,
though it was published.
Besides a solemn funeral service in the Belem church, which Don Bosco
had once sanctified with his presence, he was honored as well at an impor-
tant academic assembly in Barcelona. An elegant printed monograph com-
memorated the event.3t
This assembly was sponsored by the members of that Catholic Asso-
ciation in which Don Bosco had been enrolled as honorary member in
1886. At the end of the assembly meeting, Bishop Catala spoke of Don
Bosco, saying that in him he perceived the glory of Mankind, mainly
because he had sacrificed his whole life on its behalf. In him, too, he
perceived the glory of priests, for with his words, with his writings, and
with his actions, he had manifestly shown that he was full of the spirit of
Christ. He also perceived in him the glory ofthe Church and ofthe religious
Orders, for he had been endowed with their spirit and virtue to a most
sublime degree. "My sons, we have honored the memory of a great man
today," the prelate concluded. "Tomorrow, we shall raise a church to honor
a great Saint."
In the University of Madrid, there was a scientific commemorative
ceremony at which the parliamentary deputy, Lastres, a famous jurist who
31 Souvenir of the solemn funeral service organized by the Catholic Association of Barcelona in commemo-
ration of its revered member, the Rev. Don John Bosco, Barcelona-Sarria, Salesian Printing Works, 1888.

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had had dealings with Don Bosco, read out a speech. He had contacted Don
Bosco when he was sponsoring new legislation on prisons that would have
proven to be a social benefit to the nation, and he had hoped to entrust to
the Salesians the direction of a correctional school for boys. He had always
felt sincere veneration for the Servant of God afterward, even though they
had not been able to work out any agreement. He took the lead of his talk
from the above-mentioned events32 and explained how and why he had not
come to an agreement with Don Bosco. We have already described these
circumstances in Volume XVII.
The speaker took this occasion to extol the educational system of the
Salesians, as he had seen it practiced in Turin, and at Sarria. Among other
things, he said: "Any boy who attends a Salesian Festive Oratory, a night
school, or lives in one of his boarding schools, will look upon the priest
as an affectionate father who is full of the spirit of abnegation. He will not
experience anything that can mortify or embitter him, or anything which
may appear like repression or violence. In such an atmosphere, almost
without his knowledge, the pupil draws a great benefit from his education."
In the opinion of the speaker, this miracle was achieved because of the
two great powers of love and faith. He ended his speech with these words:
"To the believing Catholic, Don Bosco was a soul elected by Heaven, a
Saint, just like the people of Turin said as his coffin was carried past them.
Those who do not share such a belief will be unable to deny that he was
an eminent philanthropist, endowed with an extraordinary spirit of abne-
gation. Both to the former and the latter, and I hope to this university today,
and to the whole of Spain tomorrow, Don Bosco will always be an extraor-
dinary man, whose indefatigable existence, so rich in inestimable services
rendered to his fellowman, gives him a full right to immortality."
FUNERAL SERVICES HELD IN SOUTH AMERICA,
IN HONOR OF DON BOSCO
Only in Brazil were the Salesians informed rapidly and with certainty
of Don Bosco's death. The confreres in Uruguay, Argentina and Chile
lived for another month with the illusory conviction that his health was
improving, because this is what they had been told in a letter mailed from
Turin early in January 1888, and received in South America at the end of
that month.
It was true that Bishops and other people who read newspapers sent
their condolences immediately to the Superiors in the different Houses, but
for the reasons explained in the last volume, the Salesians, who had not
32 Don Bosco, and Charity in Prisons. Madrid, printed by Hernandez, 1888.

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
had any official communication, were placidly convinced that the news was
only an echo of wild rumors that had been circulated several times in the
past. At last, in early March, letters from Turin brought confirmation of the
terrible calamity.
In Brazil, since the Salesians were equally as skeptical, it was the
Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro who sought a telegram from Bishop John
Cagliero on February 8th. From the telegram the Salesians learned what
had really happened.33 When he first heard about the death, the Bishop had
already written to Niteroi a letter which was meant to be a letter of con-
dolences first, but also a letter of congratulations, for he believed that Don
Bosco was already enjoying happiness among the blessed.34
He did not stop at this. We know what kind of ardent affection he had
for Don Bosco, and so, later on, the Bishop went to the Salesian House
to officiate at the funeral service and give a eulogy which lasted two and
a quarter hours. His natural ability to speak reached the great heights of
eloquence at times, under the spur of his affection and his grief, and several
times he wept and moved his listeners to tears. As though spellbound, the
congregation sat listening up to the very end, without showing any trace
of impatience or boredom. Taking as his theme omnibus omnia [all things
to all people], he elaborated on the way Don Bosco had been able to cope
with the new pressing needs and demands of his century.
In Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, Bishop Yeregui spared no
effort to provide a fitting tribute to Don Bosco in his cathedral. A letter he
wrote to Father Rua, when the news of Don Bosco's death was confirmed,
reveals his own great esteem for the Servant of God.35
The Archbishop of Buenos Aires, who had never forgotten the days
he had spent in Italy with Don Bosco, did not find it in his heart to bemoum
his death, for he, too, imagined him already enthroned in Heaven, where
he would be a powerful patron to his sons and his Congregation. He told
the Salesians they could count on him for anything that would render
homage to his memory,36 but the Salesians, who persisted in their illusion,
did nothing until March, 1888. Then, in the church of St. Charles, Canon
De Casas said that he had been delighted to have an opportunity, "to shake
the hand of that visible angel, of that paragon of purity, who, thanks to his
33 Bishop Lacerda' s telegram to Bishop John Cagliero: News on Bosco. Bishop. Reply: Bosco dead. Cagliero.
34 See App. Doc. 3.
35 Doc. 4. The original text appeared in the Spanish Bulletin May, 1888.
36 Letter to the Provincial, February 8th, published together with the Funeral Eulogy (Buenos Aires-Almagro,
Pius IX School, printing shop, 1888).

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(Epicedia) Funeral Eulogies
19
holiness, had captivated all hearts." The Canon roused the congregation
with an inspired commemoration of Don Bosco' s charity.
Perhaps there will come a day when people will find it hard to believe
the wave of affection for Don Bosco that pervaded the whole of Chile in
those days. The population of Chile had already given proof of it in the
welcome given, the previous year, to Bishop John Cagliero. Touched by
the news about the welcome given to the Bishop, Don Bosco had written
the following, in the last letter addressed to Father Jara: "My poor sons
will have to make up for their scarcity of number with their prodigious
efforts, if we are to repay our debt of gratitude to Chile, and then only in
part."
There was no big town where commemorative funeral services were
not held, or where no eminent sacred orator delivered a eulogy. In Talca,
where a Salesian house had recently been opened, Fr. Joseph Barrios, the
founder of a religious institution helping young people of Chile, and who
himself had only recently been cured from his sickness after he had prayed
to Don Bosco, eulogized the Servant of God before the congregation on
April 26th. One local newspaper wrote that "he sounded like a saint
extolling another saint." 37
But funeral services in the capital surpassed all others in solemnity. No
one recalled anything like it in Valparaiso. Father Raymond Jara gave
evidence of his great and exceptional eloquence.38 Once a guest at the
Oratory, he had preached in Rome during the festivities related to the
consecration of the Sacred Heart Church. "How wonderful a thing, to have
known this venerable priest!" he exclaimed as he began his talk. Then, in
an inspired tone, he went on: "Ah! Don Bosco, Don Bosco, why have you
betrayed me in Turin, and in Rome? Why was your speech so fervent, why
were your eyes so radiant, your hands so warm, when, all the time, your
life was slowly waning? Why did you comfort me, telling me that we would
always remain friends, while in secret you were already preparing to depart
from this earth? Why did you urge me to return home, help your sons, and
talk of your institutions, if you already knew that the first words I uttered
would be to speak of them, while at the same time I was shedding tears
on your grave? Why did you not tell me that your farewell embrace was
for good, for all eternity, that the blessing you gave me would be the last
here on earth?"
37 El Conservador, April 27th.
38 The speech was published, following the Spanish translation ofAlimonda's eulogy (Buenos Aires-Almagro,
Salesian Printing Works. 1888).

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20
The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
As he briefly reviewed Don Bosco's life events, he described him as
the greatest hero of charity that the 19th century had ever seen. Toward the
end,39 as he described in a very colorful way his first meeting with Don
Bosco, he said: "Oh! How happy I was that evening of March 3, 1887,
when I first stood in the presence of that exceptional man. Never will I
forget it. I still seem to see him ... sitting in his chair, bowed down under
the burden of his infirmity, his hands clasped over his breast, his glance
so tender, his smile so ineffably sweet, and his voice, ah! his voice ... I
could not describe it, I only know that other men do not talk that way. He
spoke slowly and very softly; his words fell like rain that restores the earth,
and like a heartening flame. He could hardly raise his hands to bless me,
as they were weary from giving alms to the poor, from drying the tears of
the afflicted. . . ."
Then, with soft voice, he spoke of the last moments of the dying priest,
and touched briefly on his triumphant funeral procession. Finally, he addressed
Don Bosco's sons, especially those who were in South America, and he
encouraged them to follow the trail blazed so courageously by their Father,
in their mission of Christian education for the children of the working classes.
This brief survey of the more immediate repercussions of Don Bosco' s
death the world over is sufficient to show what immense esteem everyone
had towards this great, and holy Servant of God. Within the Church his
name was already appearing as a tribute. At the Eucharistic Congress held
at Antwerp in August, 1890, there was one speaker who to anyone who
might have chanced to say that in the 19th century it was no longer possible
for priests to perform miracles, as they had done in former times, this
simple answer should be given: "Remember Don Bosco."
39 Page 72. The words quoted above from Don Bosco's letter appear on p. 99, as Father Jara repeated them.

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21
Q.tqapter 2
How the Ordinary Process for Don Bosco's
Beatification and Canonization Began
Barely had Don Bosco's mortal remains been laid to rest in the crypt
of Valsalice, when, twenty-four hours later, the Superior Chapter met at the
Oratory, with Father Michael Rua presiding, to discuss if they should soon
promote the cause of beatification and canonization of the Servant of God.
During his lifetime, Don Bosco had been widely renowned as a saint, and
this renown was growing more and more compatible with the widely-
spread conviction that undoubtedly, and without delay, the Church would
elevate him to the honors of the altar. In fact, not only had eminent prelates
expressed such an opinion, but they had gone so far as to urge the Superiors
of the Congregation to expedite all necessary steps for the not too distant
day when such a process would begin. Spurred on by such an insistence,
Father John Bonetti, the Spiritual Director, now put the matter before the
Chapter, and read out two decrees issued by Pope Urban VIII regarding
the procedure that should be followed whenever anybody dies in the odor
of sanctity.
He did this in order that they all might be fully acquainted with the
decrees, and thus avoid any action contrary to the dispositions contained
in them and abide by them.
It was agreed that they would comply with the prescriptions, so that
whenever it might be pleasing to God to glorify their holy founder-on earth,
there would be no obstacle or impediment to hinder the development of
such a cause. The most urgent precautionary measure was to avoid any act
that might tend to foster the cult of the Servant of God.
The day following this Chapter meeting, Father Michael Rua informed
the Chapter that Cardinal Parocchi, Vicar of His Holiness, and Protector
of the Salesians, had advised him to take immediate preparatory steps with
the Archbishop ofTurin, so that the preliminary phases of the process might
begin. In a circular letter addressed to all the Directors, and dated that same
day, February 8th, Father Michael Rua issued instructions that funeral
services were to be held for the repose of Don Bosco's soul in all the
Houses only once, on the anniversary of his death. This did not deter him
from adding the remark referring to the anniversary celebrations: "until

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22
The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
such time when the Church shall pronounce its infallible sentence, and
declare him Venerable, as we hope it will."
When Father Rua visited Rome on the 9th ofthat same month, Cardinal
Parocchi had him call on Bishop Caprara, Promoter of the Faith with the
Sacred Congregation of Rites, and ask him for exact clarifications on how
he should best set up the cause.
When pointing out Don Bosco to a friend of his in 1887, this prelate
had remarked: "There is a man whose cause will be started some day, and
I shall have to play the role of Devil's Advocate." When he said this, he
was probably not in the least aware that this prophecy soon would come
true. He was genuinely interested in giving Father Michael Rua detailed
instructions about everything, offering himself for any need he might have
later on. The norms which were provided helped Father Michael Rua
immensely. He could not have found more expert guidance in this matter,
which was completely new to him. The prelate insisted on the necessity
of gathering as much data as possible about the miracles and graces that
had been obtained after the death of the Servant of God, and on providing
for them all the best documentation possible.1 The Cardinal then recom-
mended very earnestly that as soon as possible all that pertained to Don
Bosco' s life be written. As he left the audience, the Cardinal's last words
were: "I warmly recommend Don Bosco's Cause."
When he got back to Turin, Father Michael Rua reported to the Chapter
all that he had been told in Rome, and, at Father Celestine Durando's
suggestion, the task of compiling and editing a summary account of events
related to Don Bosco's life and his virtues was entrusted to Father John
Bonetti, assisted by Father Joachim Berto. Anyone who had important
information to give was urged to communicate it to them. To render their
task easier, it was decided that a circular letter was to be sent to all Salesian
Houses, requesting that all Salesians should report on anything related to
Don Bosco's life which they might have witnessed. At the same time, it
was decided that an announcement should be published in the Bulletin,
asking anyone who was in possession of autographs by Don Bosco, to send
them to Turin in either the original, or certified copy.
Instead of sending a circular letter in this sense to the Salesians, Father
Michael Rua, in his first letter to the confreres as Rector Major, warmly
recommended that they commit to paper, and then address to the Mother
House, any account of specific events in the life of Don Bosco with which
1 Letter from Father Michael Rua to Father John Bonetti, Rome, February 20, 1888.

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s Don Bosco Beatification and Canonization
23
they happened to be familiar, anything that dealt with the theological,
cardinal or moral virtues, anything that had to do with supernatural gifts,
his prophecies or visions or the cures he wrought, and similar things. He
also cautioned the Salesians that, were they to report anything, they would
probably be required to confirm their report later under oath, and that they
should therefore be as painstakingly accurate and as truthful as they could.2
In the meantime, hardly a day passed by without some report reaching
Turin of some grace or exceptional cure obtained through prayers addressed
to Don Bosco' s intercession, or through touching something that had belonged
to him. The worldwide popular vote that acclaimed the holiness of this
Servant of God was remarkable, and infinite were the solicitations made
also by very important people that there be no delay in starting the cause
of his Beatification. Faced with such an overwhelming series of events,
Father Michael Rua felt that he really had to take action.
A cause of Beatification has two distinct phases, which are carried out
on two successive periods of time. The first of these is carried out by the
diocese in which the Servant of God spent his life; it's a preparatory step
for the second phase, which is carried out in Rome before the Sacred Congre-
gation of Rites. The initial part of the first phase is known as the ordinary,
diocesan, or Informative Process; the second part of the first phase calls
for a new Process, known as the Apostolic Process. The basic difference
between these two is that the former begins and unfolds at the order and
under the authority of the diocesan Ordinary, while the Holy See orders
the latter. Now since the bishop is the ordinary judge in his diocese, the
application asking for the introduction of the cause must be addressed to
him, and it is he who must decide, first of all, if there is adequate and sub-
stantial justification for such a cause. According to the directives addressed
to the Bishops on March 12, 1631, by the Sacred Congregation of Rites,
on the order of Pope Urban XIII, the favorable verdict of the bishop should
be motivated principally by the fact that the Servant of God has a repu-
tation of holiness, especially when such a reputation is substantiated by
miracles.
The first step, then, was to submit a petition to the Archbishop of Turin,
asking him to order that a diocesan process commence. According to canon
law, any faithful, any religious institute, chapter, diocese or community,
may file such a petition. Although the Archbishop had the power to decide
independently of others, Father Michael Rua did feel, nevertheless, that it
2 Turin, March 19, 1888.

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24
The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
would make it easier for a decision on his petition if he were to obtain the
support of the Diocesan Ordinaries of Piedmont and Liguria who had a
more direct knowledge of Don Bosco.
For this reason, Father Michael Rua wrote a standard letter to all of
them on July 16, 1889, asking them to express their opinion on the matter,
either to him, or to the Archbishop himself. He enclosed a copy of the
petition he intended to submit to Cardinal Cajetan Alimonda at an oppor-
tune time. He declared that he was prepared to incorporate in such petition
an amendment or additional remark that the Bishops might suggest. Then
Father Michael Rua concluded: "I trust that, in your affectionate recollec-
tions of our late lamented Don Bosco, and in consideration of the beneficial
influence that his zeal and charity had in your Diocese, as well as in your
earnest desire to promote the glory of God, and the edification of the
faithful, you will cooperate in honoring this Servant, and be generous _in
giving me your advice and support, for which I extend in advance my
heartfelt thanks."
In the same letter, Father Michael Rua mentioned several cures which,
humanly speaking, were indicated as possible miracles. On August 16th,
a month later, he informed the Bishops about several more reliable cures,
retaining the right of also mentioning other cures for thejudges to be appointed
for the eventual Diocesan Process, so that they might be assembled according
to legal prescription; as evidence helpful to the cause, when it was time
to be introduced in Rome.
We do not know the content of all the replies Father Rua received.
Among those in our possession, several expressed opinions well worthy
of note.
Bishop Magnasco, the Archbishop of Genoa, wrote (on July 25th):
"His memory is a genuine source of glory for the Church in these tragic
times." Bishop Salvay, the Bishop of Alessandria, wrote (on August 11th):
"I am an old friend of this eminent contemporary of mine, who several
times honored me with welcome visits, and I always admired his great
virtue and impressive works of charity and zeal, which for so many years,
caused the world to proclaim him a great Servant of God, or, rather, a Saint;
therefore, I cannot but praise most warmly the course of action planned
by the Salesians, who are fortunate indeed to have such a Father, and join
wholeheartedly, my own humble prayers to theirs, that Your Eminence may
grant them the grace they are about to implore, should you so deem
advisable for the glory of God, as an ornament for the Catholic Church and
for the glorification of Father John Bosco, if, as we hope, this so pleases

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Don Bosco s Beatification and Canonization
25
God." Bishop Riccardi of Novara wrote on August 15th: "The singularly
providential origins of the Institutions founded by Don Bosco, and their
subsequent rapid growth, first in Turin and Piedmont, and then throughout
Italy, Europe and elsewhere; the truly Catholic spirit ofcharity that inspired
Don Bosco, and which he was able to transmit so marvelously to all his
collaborators; the life of constant sacrifice that he lived and all other
remarkable virtues of which he gave manifest proof; all of this offers a very
valid reason to single out conclusively the outstanding degree of the virtues
of that elect soul which was Don Bosco. This fully justifies the reputation
of holiness he had during his lifetime and at the time of his death, and which
did not only continue, but has further increased since the time of his death.
For this reason I feel that those features of complete faith in God and of
burning charity toward one's neighbor that we admire in the great saints
who were outstanding in their heroic charity and apostolic zeal, were more
splendidly evident in Don Bosco. It can truly be said that he did an
extraordinary amount of good, and he did it the way of the saints, as it
appears from their lives."
Bishop Rosaz, the saintly Bishop of Susa, wrote on August 22nd: "I
feel that the reputation of holiness universally enjoyed by Don Bosco is
beyond all dispute.... I believe that Don Bosco was one of those privi-
leged souls who are summoned by God to withstand the new forms and
the new manifestations of evil, and I believe that he responded marvelously
to the mission assigned to him by God, to deal with his neighbor and in
a particular manner with young people, whom he directed to God with his
zeal and holy industry. Don Bosco's beatification (and 'May God not delay
this beatification'), will shed a glorious light on a great model for all edu-
cators to follow, according to the demands of the times, and on a great
protector for all the clergy and all people as well."
Encouraged by such introductory commendations, Father Michael Rua
submitted his petition to the Archbishop on the second anniversary of Don
Bosco' s death. It was not formulated as a personal application. During the
first week in September, the fifth General Chapter had met at Valsalice.
Before the assembly broke up, all the members approved and signed a
petition that had been drawn up by order of Father Michael Rua. This was
the same petition that, as we have mentioned, had been sent to the sub-
Alpine and Ligurian Bishops. Since none of the prelates to whom it was
sent found anything in it that required changes, Father Michael Rua sent
it to the Archbishop on January 31, 1890, with an additional letter, from
which we quote the following passages:

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26
The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
"Today is the second anniversary of the death of the Servant of God,
Don Bosco, and in obedience to the advice of a number of eminent persons,
I feel that now is the time that I submit the enclosed petition to Your
Eminence, as the wish of Superiors Major of the Congregation of St.
Francis of Sales.
"A humble request is herein addressed to Your Eminence, that you for-
mally open the Diocesan Process on the life and virtues ofthe above-mentioned
Servant of God, and on the miraculous cures which were obtained from
God through his intercession, after his death.
"Some time ago, Your Eminence told me that you intended to speak
about this very process at a forthcoming convention of Bishops. I would
be happy if, at such a meeting, the arguments adduced in this petition were
examined, so that whatever the ruling may be, we would be in a position
to inform the living and posterity that this momentous decision was made
according to the norms of Christian prudence.
"I enclose here two copies of reports of cures which, to our human
understanding, seem miraculous. These reports were drawn up by Bishop
Basil Leto, after he himself had heard the testimony of eyewitnesses. He
signed them, and had them certified by your archdiocesan Curia."
These two miraculous cures to which Fr. Michael Rua refers were
already described in the next to the last chapter of Volume XVIII, and
concerned Mrs. Dellavalle and Mrs. Piovano.
The petition formulated by the Chapter stated that all the conditions
required by the Holy See had been met, so that everything might proceed
as requested. It also mentioned certain urgent reasons why a speedy action
was of the essence.
Turin, September 6, 1889
Your Eminence:
The undersigned priests of the Salesian Congregation, now
meeting in General Chapter at Valsalice, in conformity with their
Constitutions, take this propitious opportunity to address a humble
petition to your Eminence, to ask if you would avail yourself of
the faculties granted to Ordinaries by the Apostolic See, to for-
mally open the Diocesan Process on the reputation and holiness,
on the virtues and miracles, of the Servant of God, Fr. John Bosco,
who died in this city on January 31, 1888, and is buried here. This

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Don Bosco s Beatification and Canonization
27
petition is filed in order that the cause of his Beatification may be
introduced in Rome.
As we ask Your Eminence to open the process formally, we
base our petition on the following considerations to which, in
your wisdom, Your Eminence will attribute whatever importance
you feel they might warrant, in the Lord.
1. Throughout his lifetime, the Rev. John Bosco gave evidence
of a great virtue, such as Pope Urban Vill had requested in a
circular letter of March 12, 1631, addressed by the Sacred Con-
gregation of Rites to Patriarchs, Archbishops, and Bishops, so
that an Ordinary may proceed with the formal opening of a
Diocesan Process. (See Lamb, De. serv. Dei Beatif Vol. II, Chap-
ter 43, No. 10.) Thousands of persons who knew Don Bosco
and were familiar with him, confirm in faith the existence of
this eminent virtue, which is corroborated by many ofhis impor-
tant charitable and religious foundations, so useful to the Church,
which were originated and developed by him in very difficult
times, with a truly apostolic zeal. Among the many founda-
tions and undertakings, we wish to mention the foundation of
the Pious Society of St. Francis of Sales; the foreign Missions
that have spread to the farthest comers of the earth; the more
than one hundred schools, the Hospices and Oratories for the
Christian education of boys and girls; the thousands of priests
given to the Church, especially in Piedmont, at a time when
there was great scarcity ofpriests; the great number of writings
that he compiled and published in defense ofthe Catholic faith;
the many chapels and magnificent churches that he built from
their very foundations and consecrated to the divine cult. Over
and above these things, there are many more acts, of both pub-
lic and private nature, that are well known to Your Eminence.
2. The above-mentioned Servant of God was abundantly endowed
with supernatural gifts which he revealed on many occasions,
such as the prediction ofpublic events which humanly speaking
could not have been foreseen and which came true with all the
circumstances he had foreseen. He also revealed these super-
natural powers in his ability to read the conscience of others,
to reveal their secrets, and in curing the sick nearby or far away,
only by blessing them.

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28
The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
3. He enjoyed among the people a general reputation of holiness
during his lifetime because of his great virtues, his grand
works of zeal and charity, and his extraordinary charisms. This
renown for sanctity did not terminate with his death, but grew,
instead, even more after it. This is confirmed by the great
number of people who appeal to his intercession before God,
and by the frequent visits of the faithful to his tomb, where we
are now gathered together.
4. Many people who were struck by serious calamities or suffered
from very serious illness or were declared incurable, have been
healed or received great relief instantly or in a short period of
time when they recommended themselves to his intercession
after the death of the Servant of God. These are the ones who
beg that their testimony be juridically received.
5. In the text: De Servorum Dei beatificatione et Beatorum Cano-
nizatione, Pope Benedict XIV stressed several times that in
circumstances similar to those described above, it is wise to
open formally the Diocesan Process dum testes de visu super-
sunt; [while eyewitnesses are still alive] and specifically, in the
General Decree, dated April 23, 1741, on the occasion of the
Cause ofthe Venerable Servant ofGod, Francis Caracciolo (now
St. Francis) the Pope deplored the fact that, as a result of cul-
pable negligence, the Ordinary Process had been deferred until
no more testes de visu [eyewitnesses] survived (Vol. ill, Chap-
ter 3, Nos. 24 and 25). Now, in the case of the Rev. John Bosco,
there is an obvious danger that the number of eyewitnesses
may decrease; since he died at the ripe age of 73 years, only
a few of his friends and acquaintances from his early years are
alive today, and within a short time, they, too, will pass away
or be prevented by their advanced age from making their per-
sonal appearance before a court, to make a legal deposition.
6. There may be some doubts and uncertainties in evaluating some
of the acts and pronouncements attributed to him, owing to the
Servant of God's multiple and grandiose works, caused also
by the difficult times during which he lived, and on account
of the questions and contradictions he encountered. If such acts
and pronouncements could be investigated while the people
who witnessed them or took part in them were still alive, it

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Don Bosco s Beatification and Canonization
29
would be far easier to ascertain and illustrate the whole truth,
and this would facilitate immensely the work of the judges
appointed for any eventful Apostolic Process.
7. A period of ten years must elapse before the Act of an Ordinary
Process may be opened, unless there is an apostolic dispen-
sation to that effect, and before the cause of Beatification may
begin in Rome. After this, the Bishops must address their
postulatory letters to the Pope; the writings attributed to the
Servant of God must be subjected to investigation and review.
The search and review of Don Bosco' s works might require
a long period of time, mainly because Don Bosco wrote very
much and many of his manuscripts are not yet edited and many
are the works which have been already published. Because of
all of the above steps, it would seem convenient that the Dioce-
san Process begin as soon as possible. This, however, depends
on the free initiative of the Ordinary. If this were to be done,
the remaining time, after its presentation in Rome, would be
used for the other necessary steps.
8. The Diocesan Process for a number of Servants of God, who,
within our own limited memory, died in the odor of sanctity,
was formally opened only a little while after their death; this
applies, among others, to the Ven. John Vianney, the Cure of
Ars, Father Bernard Clausi, and Father Lodovico of Casoria.
We hope that Your Eminence will give our petition your benevo-
lent consideration. This hope is strengthened by the knowledge that
the Bishops of Piedmont and Liguria, who had occasion to become
personally acquainted with the eminent virtues and great works of
the Servant of God share our own opinion and our own hope, as
Your Eminence may ascertain from the letters submitted here.
We pray that God may enlighten you on the action you should
take and, in the meantime, we reverently kiss your sacred ring and
are honored, as always, to be with great esteem,
Your humble, obedient sons in Jesus Christ
(49 signatures follow)
On February 8, 1890, the Cardinal wrote, saying that he had read the
petition and wished to assure the Salesians that he would give it proper

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
consideration, and that he would reserve to himself the right to send out
whatever dispositions were necessary.
Even though he was fully entitled to take care ofeverything by himself,
however he thought it better not to act on this alone. This course of action
was dictated by his own humility.
The Salesian Superiors did not hide the danger that possibly some
Bishops might feel that the time had not yet come for the process to be
opened formally and therefore they would pass a negative verdict. This
would have created difficulties and the need for repeated recourses.
A propitious opportunity to consult the Bishops presented itself three
months later, when all the Bishops of the Diocesan areas of Turin and
Vercelli met with the Cardinal for some important business. Twenty was
the number of Bishops assembled at the archepiscopal residence.
When questioned during a general assembly meeting on the 8th day
of the month, the Bishops said unanimously that the Diocesan Process
should, in their opinion, be formally opened. In fact, a few of them, Bishops
Manacorda and Richelmy among others, spoke out in great praise of Don
Bosco. From that time on, the Cardinal resolved to accept the petition of
the Salesians and take immediate action.
While this was happening in Turin, the two men who were to play
leading roles in the early days of the Process were both absent from home,
and for more than a month. Father Michael Rua was then in Belgium to
lay the cornerstone of the house ofLiege, which had been accepted by Don
Bosco two months before his death. He had already visited the houses of
France and London before he got to Liege. Father John Bonetti had just
completed the tour of Sicily, and was in Central Italy at that time. Both Fr.
Rua and Fr. Bonetti got back to Turin immediately before the feast of Mary
Help of Christians, which was celebrated on June 3rd in 1890. But they did
not waste any time.
While thousands of faithful souls crowded the Shrine, both inside and
out, saying prayers and addressing petitions to Don Bosco's Madonna, the
Salesians and the Curia were expediting the preliminary steps, both on the
eve of the feast, and on the feast day itself.
The first of these preliminary steps was to appoint a Postulator, whose
task it was to promote the acts of the cause, provide for all necessary
expenses, submit a list of witnesses to be examined and a list of all the
documents that had a bearing on the case, edit the drafting of the Articles
on which witnesses were to be examined, and then forward the same to

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Don Bosco s Beatification and Canonization
31
the Promoter of the Faith. The task of being Postulator by right belonged
to Fr. Michael Rua, who was to be the Actor of the cause; but when an Actor
is unable to fulfill the obligations of such a role, he is allowed to appoint
a representative. So Fr. Michael Rua empowered Fr. John Bonetti to take
his place, and authorized him to appoint an assistant Postulator for any
other Curia, should this prove necessary.
As soon as he received this authorization, Father Bonetti went to work
on the 3rd of the month, to expedite the second preliminary step, which
was to submit to the Archbishop a formal petition for the beginning of the
Informative Process. His Eminence granted the petition, and in a Rescript
constituted the Tribunal that same day, scheduling the first hearing for the
following day. This was the third preliminary step.
The tribunal was formed as follows:
Canon Bartholomew Roetti, Vicar General, delegate judge.
Canon Stanislaus Gazzelli, assistant judge,
Canon Aloysius Nasi, assistant judge.
Canon Michael Sorasio, Promoter of the Faith.
Rev. Mauro Rocchietti, Registrar.
Mr. Peter Aghemo, Bailiff.
Since two testes instrumentarii [two instrumental witnesses] were also
required to confirm the validity of the acts with their signatures, Bishop
Forchieri and the Rev. Diverio were appointed.
Fully cognizant of the solemnity and importance ofit all, Father Michael
Rua made an official announcement to the Congregation three days later,
and ordered special, daily prayers to implore the guidance of Heaven. He
also recommended that the Congregation support these general prayers with
a scrupulously virtuous behavior. "We should show to everybody that we
are not unworthy disciples of a Master for whom the Church has seen fit
to open the Cause of Beatification so soon," he wrote.
The Cardinal presided at the first hearing. After the Veni Creator had
been sung to invoke the Holy Spirit, the petition of the Postulator was read
out, and the decree by which the Ordinary accepted it, and for which the
judges were appointed. Then the ritual oath was taken. First of all, the
Cardinal took it tacto pectore, then the judge delegate, the two assistant
judges, the Promoter of the Faith, the Registrar and the Bailiff.
They swore not only to perform their different duties faithfully and
diligently, but also to keep secret the questions put to the witnesses, and

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
the depositions made. Anyone who violated this oath would incur auto-
matically the penalty of excommunication reserved to the Pope. The bind-
ing oath of secrecy would hold them until the findings of the Process were
made public; this would not be until all the witnesses had been questioned.
Everyone then signed the oath he had taken. The minutes were read
out, and the chancellor handed the documents to the Registrar, who issued
a formal receipt for them.
Before the Cardinal adjourned the hearing, he said a few words, stressing
the importance of the matter in which they were engaged; and in speaking
of the oath that they would do their duty with the greatest diligence, he
recommended that they all pray that, through the intercession of the blessed
Virgin, things might proceed to the greater glory of God and the advantage
of Holy Church.
The second hearing was scheduled for June 27th, and again the Car-
dinal presided. Father Bonetti submitted the Articles to the Court.
The Articles consist in a concise summary of the life, virtues, acts, and
miracles of the Servant of God, all of them being listed in short, numbered
paragraphs; these paragraphs are not compiled in any definitive or final
way, but merely provide material for investigation.
The Articles constitute the fundamental premises for the causes, and
must be proven true by testimony. There are pre-established rules for the
order oftheir compilation: life and works, theological virtues, cardinal virtues,
moral virtues (poverty, humility, chastity), heroic virtues in general, super-
natural powers, fame of holiness during lifetime, holy death, funeral, burial,
fame as a saint after death, miracles occurring after death. In Don Bosco's
case, the number of articles submitted was 807. Furthermore, the Postu-
lator submitted a preliminary list of witnesses for questioning, and reserved
his right to call others, if necessary. Lastly, he pronounced what is known
as the iuramentum calumniae, that is to say, he swore not only to say what
was true, but also that he would not use any deceitful or fraudulent device,
nor try to corrupt the judges.
With this hearing, the Diocesan Process was finally fixed.

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Qtqapter 3
From the Ordinary Process Held in Turin
to the Roman Decree That Declared Don Bosco Venerable
The main purpose of an Ordinary Process is to ascertain what pertains
to the renown of holiness, to the virtues in general, and to the miracles of
a Servant of God. The Tribunal, constituted as we have already described,
began its work on July 23, 1890, by swearing in the witnesses summoned
by the Postulator and by other appointed official members. They all took
an oath that they would tell the truth and maintain secrecy about the
questions put to them, as well as the answers they gave, under the pain of
perjury, and of excommunication that was reserved particularly to the Pope.
As required, the people called to give testimony had either lived with
the Servant of God, or had witnessed his virtues with their own eyes, or
had heard eyewitnesses talk about them. First and foremost among them
were Bishop Bertagna, Bishop Cagliero and the two Servants of God,
Father Michael Rua and the Father Murialdo. Other persons were sum-
moned during the course of the process, so that, at the final count, 32
witnesses had been questioned, and 13 co-witnesses, that is, those who had
been summoned to testify on special matters together with an official
witness.
When the questioning of Bishop Bertagna was completed, the judges
suspended the hearings because it was now vacation time, and additionally
because they had other commitments. Then, as winter approached, Canon
Gazzelli became sick, Canon Nasi fell down and fractured a leg, while
Canon Roetti was appointed Superior of Cottolengo' s Little House and no
longer had time to devote to the Process. So, on the advice of Bishop
Caprara and the consent of Canon Sorasio who was the Public Prosecutor,
the Cardinal wrote to the Sacred Congregation of Rites between January
and February 1891, to ask the Secretary of that Congregation to petition
the Holy Father to grant some special faculties, in order to ensure the
smooth development of the hearings. One such faculty was that of the
appointment of some judges who were neither high dignitaries nor doctors
of law; and also the appointment of a greater number of judges, so that,
should any of them be prevented from attending, he could be replaced
immediately by someone else. This would make it possible to hold more
frequent hearings.

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
Bishop Caprara undertook to speak to the Pope in person about it on
February 16th, but quite contrary to the general expectations, the Pope felt
that he ought not grant such a request. Even though he did not disapprove
the fact that the Process went on so fast, yet he felt that he shouldn't grant
that authorization because the cause was introduced much too soon after
the death of the Servant of God. He also felt that the Holy See should not
enter the picture so soon. He said that this could be done later, if necessary.
This did not mean that the faculties were denied, but merely that they were
delayed. In the meantime, the Bishop suggested what was needed to be
done so that the hearings might proceed: the judges first appointed would
relinquish their mandate and the Cardinal would appoint others who were
doctors of law, as the ecclesiastical rules prescribed.
This was done, and hearings were resumed on April 9th. The adjunct
judge, Gazzelli, now became delegate judge in place of Roetti, who yielded
place to Canon Molinari, while Canon Ramella filled Nasti's place. As the
third judge, Canon Pechenino was appointed.
But now the hearings suffered two serious setbacks with the death of
Cardinal Alimonda and the death of the Postulator, Father John Bonetti;
they died in May and June of that same year-1891-respectively. Gazelli
was elected Capitular Vicar, with the authority of Ordinary. Immediately,
he gave orders that the hearings were to continue. At the first hearing at
which he presided, he appointed Molinari as the new delegate judge (this
was June 22nd), and Father Michael Rua appointed Father Dominic Bel-
monte, the Prefect General of the Pious Society, to take Father John Bon-
neti' s place.
Things went on this way for two years until Molinari' s death, and Gaz-
zelli and Ramella resigned. On November 9, 1893, the new Archbishop,
David of the Conti Riccardi family, appointed Canon Morozzo della Rocco
as delegate judge, with the Rev. Alasia as adjunct judge.
The questioning of witnesses was resumed, and proved to be long, and
laborious. The many, complicated vicissitudes of Don Bosco' s life, and his
many contacts with people, required a lengthy and careful investigation.
It is therefore not surprising if the Process lasted seven years, and did not
end until April 1, 1897, in the presence of Bishop Riccardi at the Salesian
Oratory.
In commemorating this period of seven years, Father Michael Rua
wrote in a circular letter dated August 8, 1907: "The judges gave proof of
great ability in coordinating the testimony of so many witnesses, and it is

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Declaring Don Bosco Venerable
35
interesting to note that, instead of growing weary of their difficult, pro-
tracted task, they seemed only to wax more enthusiastic every day."
The Diocesan Tribunal held 562 hearings, and the depositions filled
5178 legal-sized pages bound in 22 volumes. The depositions of Fathers
Michael Rua and Joachim Berto filled the greater part of them; the testi-
mony of Fr. Michael Rua was necessarily lengthy because of his long and
intimate association with Don Bosco. The testimony of Father Berto was
also lengthy because he was called to testify regarding the supernatural
events, which were disputed so many times, and regarding the controversy
with Archbishop Gastaldi.
All these collected documents were then carefully copied and authen-
ticated, placed in a wooden box, sealed and handed over to the Sacred
Congregation of Rites for examination. This Congregation was then to
decide whether or not the ordinary Informative Process had been conducted
properly before proposing to the Holy Father the introduction of the cause
and the opening of the Apostolic Process.
But no examination of a cause may begin before a Cardinal has been
appointed to examine it and report on the findings to the Congregations that
are called upon to discuss the Cause. This Cardinal is called Ponens, that
is, the person who reports on the cause. His nomination is reserved to the
Pope. For the Cause of Don Bosco, Leo XIII appointed as Ponens Cardinal
Parocchi.
Then a Postulator, who was to be a permanent resident of Rome, was
needed. For this task, the name of Father Caesar Cagliero, Procurator Gen-
eral of the Pious Society, was proposed, and was accepted by the Secre-
tariat of the Sacred Congregation of Rites. Father Dominic Belmonte' s title
was changed to that of Vice-Postulator.
The General Promoter of the Faith plays a very important role in this
Congregation. In everyday language he is known as the Devil's Advocate,
as though he actually takes the role of the Devil himself in trying to dis-
prove the saintliness of a Servant of God. His task is to raise objections
against any and all testimony indicating the existence of virtues, or fame
of holiness. His role is the equivalent to that of the King's Public Prose-
cutor in criminal trials. The title usually given is really quite inappropriate,
for his action is just the opposite, since his task is to bring up all the dif-
ficulties and objections known as animadversiones, in order that they may
be solved beyond any possible shadow of doubt by the Postulator. Finally,
an advocate is needed to assume the defense of the case, with the assistance
of a Procurator, who is to work with him.

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
Before the documents that had been sent from Turin could begin to be
examined in Rome, all the published or unpublished writings attributed to
the Servant of God had to be searched for and examined: this included
tracts, pamphlets, sermons, poems, and letters, regardless of whether these
had been written by him personally or by others via his dictation, as well
as any works that had been published by his direct order. It would have
only been a waste oftime ifproceedings had continued and then it had been
discovered that some of the writings contained thoughts conflicting with
pure doctrine in regard to either faith or morals. It had been arranged that
the work of research would be done in various centers, but in the end, it
was all concentrated in one place, where the Servant of God had lived, in
order to accelerate things. After the death of Bishop Riccardi in 1898, his
successor, Bishop Augustine Richelmy, issued an order on October 25th,
acting on instructions given him by the Holy See, whereby "in the name
of holy obedience, and under pain of the usual censure" the faithful of the
Archdiocese were to submit any writings coming under the above heading
that they might have in their possession. These papers were to be handed
either to His Lordship or to the Rector Major of the Salesians, or to the
pastor of the individual concerned. Moreover, if anyone knew of any papers
that had been written by Don Bosco and were now treasured by some
private household, or in some archive or library, they were to duly inform
the Archbishop or their pastor about it. As Superior General of the Pious
Society, Father Michael Rua also instructed all the Salesians to send him
immediately any letter, or other written document penned by the Servant
of God, that they might have in their possession. He gave these instructions
in a circular letter.
A deadline of two months had been set for compliance with this order,
but the requisition of documents continued for approximately two more
years before it was decided that, in order not to delay excessively the begin-
ning of the Cause, all documents that had been collected up to that time
and verified were to be sent to Rome, so that the Congregation of Rites
might proceed forthwith in the examination. Printed works and manuscripts
were then subdivided into nine categories: 1. Historic and scientific works
(6); 2. Catechetical and polemical writings (19); 3. Biographical writings
(17); 4. Lives of Saints (8); 5. Lives of the Popes, from St. Peter to St. Mel-
chiades inclusively (20); 6. Marian (9); 7. Ascetical (8); 8. Lighter reading
matter (5); Several manuscripts dealing with the above subjects (17).
A second collection of documents sent to the Congregation contained
a great number of his writings of lesser importance: private letters, various

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Declaring Don Bosco Venerable
37
circular letters, documents addressed to the Holy See or to Cardinals, pam-
phlets written in defense of Salesian schools, the house Rules with appen-
dix dealing with the Preventive System, various contracts involving different
people, negotiations for or projects about the openings of Salesian Houses,
short poems, sermons, summarized or sketchy notes for sermons delivered,
topics of and leads on sermons heard. Copies ofhis personal correspondence
alone filled 1420 pages of protocol paper. As Archivist for the Congrega-
tion, Father Joachim Berto made copies ofthese and other documents. Then
Cardinal Richelmy sent out all this material (in the meantime he had been
elevated to this high rank), for the so-called processiculus diligentiarum.
This is the title given to a juridical investigation made in order to verify
whether or not every precaution has been taken in the collating ofthe writings,
while the copies are checked to see if they are faithful to the original. The
Archbishop who had been appointed for this task by the Holy See with the
title of Apostolic Delegate Judge, appointed an under-delegate with the
approval of Rome, on June 5, 1900, and a special Tribunal was constituted.
As the seat designated for the hearings His Eminence chose the Salesian
Oratory, where 18 hearings took place from June 10, 1900, to January 30,
1901. A certified copy of each meeting was sent after every hearing to the
Congregation of Rites.
During the proceedings, both the Postulator and the Assistant Postu-
lator died. Father John Marenco, the new Procurator General, replaced the
Postulator; the Assistant Postulator was replaced by the new Prefect Gen-
eral, Father Philip Rinaldi.
At this point, that is, at the end of the Informative Process when eye-
witnesses are still alive, it is necessary to expedite the Apostolic Process
ne pereant in causa probationes, that is, so that their testimony might not
be lost either through death or for other reasons. Consequently, the Postu-
lator, Father John Marenco, filed a petition immediately, asking for a prompt
issuance of the so-called litterae remissoriales. With these letters, the Pope
orders that the cause be introduced by the Congregation of Rites, which
then opens its investigation, in order to go on with further processes aucto-
ritate apostolica. But four things are necessary before the Pope issues or
endorses such an order: to complete the examination of all writings, in Rome;
to complete the process de non cultu carried out by the Ordinary; to prepare
the Positio; to collect the litterae postulatoriae.
We shall first describe the last of these proceedings. In order to obtain
the Remissiory Letters, the petition of the Actors ofthe Cause must be accom-
panied by other petitions made by eminent persons, such as Cardinals, Bishops,

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
lay princes, Superiors of religious orders, Canonical Chapters, Pious Soci-
eties, etc. This is done in the form of letters, which are known as Postu-
latory Letters; they are addressed to the Pope, and are submitted by the
Postulator. In these letters an earnest appeal is made that the Holy Father
condescend to grant the petition of these faithful, by signing with his own
hand, and as soon as possible, the commitment, i.e. the order that the Cause
begin. Attached to these letters are the reasons given for submitting such
a petition. After soliciting such letters far and wide, the Postulator received
341 of them during the two-year period 1902-1903; 23 of them were from
Cardinals. After they had been submitted to the Holy Father, they were
returned to the Postulator by the Congregation of Rites so that he might
choose sixty of the more important among them and have them printed,
before he handed them over to the Procurator of the Cause.
Such letters are not only printed, but form an integral part of the Posi-
tio, which is drawn up by the Advocate for the defense. This document also
consists of two other very important parts: the Summarium and the lnfor-
matio. Morani, the Advocate, asked the Procurator to choose extracts from
the depositions of witnesses in the Acts of the Ordinary Process, and have
them printed and divided into different categories, according to whether
they concerned theological, cardinal or moral virtues, religious vows, the
reputation of holiness during the lifetime of the Servant of God, and after
his death, the funeral and burial, the graces and miracles attributed to his
intercession. This constitutes the so-called Summarium, and Latin com-
ments are entered in the margins, indicating statements made by witnesses.
While the Procurator was attending to this, the Advocate compiled his lnfor-
matio, which consisted of two parts: one being a comprehensive descrip-
tion of Don Bosco' s life, the other an exposition ofhow he had been virtuous
to the degree of heroism, which created his renown as a saint.
A third preliminary step demands that the Tribunal called for by the
Ordinary ascertain whether or not the decree of Urban VIII had been
properly obeyed. This decree prohibits giving any ecclesiastical veneration
to a Servant of God who died in the odor of sanctity. This process is carried
out by the Curia in whose territory the Servant of God's tomb is located,
for it is mainly around the tomb that such cults originate. Besides the tomb,
the Tribunal checks the room where the Servant of God died, and any other
place where one might suspect the existence of traces of such a cult. Legal
evidence is required to confirm the report of the findings, and this calls for
four witnesses, two of whom are official appointees. The notary records the
results of the investigation undertaken in the minutes of the process, and

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Declaring Don Bosco Venerable
39
a signed, sealed copy of the minutes is then sent to Rome. The investigation
did not take very long, and everything was completed by June 4, 1904.
The examination of all of Don Bosco' s writings required a good deal
of time. This was the fourth preliminary step. It's the task of the Cardinal
Ponens to entrust this examination to censors who are theologians and
belong to the Congregation of Rites. It was Cardinal Parocchi who took
care of this, but Cardinal Parocchi died in 1903; and the successor of Leo
XIlI appointed Cardinal Tripepi as Ponens. It was to him that the findings
of the censors were submitted. A considerable group of documents con-
cerned the controversy between Don Bosco and Archbishop Gastaldi.
Upon receiving the report of the Promoter of the Faith, Bishop Verde,
Pius X issued instructions that, in view of the peculiar nature of these
documents, they were to be examined apart from the others. From the
standpoint of theological censorship, these documents, like all the others,
were above reproach, but because of the things they concerned and the
dignity of the people they involved, it was felt that they should be subjected
to a very careful examination, in view of anything that might reflect on the
proceedings on Don Bosco's virtues.
A special secret examination was undertaken to facilitate a more reli-
able and fully impartial evaluation of the conduct of the Servant of God
throughout this protracted, difficult and distressing disagreement. A Con-
sultant was then called upon to render a votum pro veritate, and he sub-
mitted an eloquent report in which the good reasons of truth and justice
were clearly defined. The report ended with the conscientious statement
that the careful examination of the whole disagreement had failed to pro-
duce any element which might constitute a serious impediment to ad
ulteriora [subsequent proceedings], or obstruct in any way the regular
discussion of Don Bosco's heroic virtues. Whereupon, the writings were
approved with a decree issued on August 22, 1906.
In the meantime, the Promoter of the Faith had continued with his own
task, which was to extract from all the assembled material relating to the
Cause elements on which to base his animadversiones, or objections to the
legality of evidence produced, or against Don Bosco' s virtues, and his
reputation of holiness. These objections were then printed, as also were the
refutations by which the Advocate resolved them so that there could no
longer be either doubt or uncertainty. Then the Information [lnformatio],
the Summary [Summarium], the Objections [Animadversiones] and Rela-
tiveAnswers were bound together in a single volume, copies of which were

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
given, as it is prescribed, to the Cardinal Ponens, the Cardinal Prefect, all
the Cardinals and Prelates who were officers of the Sacred Congregation
of Rites, the Secretary, the Promoter and the Vice-Promoter of the Faith.
This had to be done forty-five days before the date scheduled for the
discussion.
Finally, after many more formalities which need not be described here,
on July 23, 1907, theCardinalPonens, VivesyTuto, who had been appointed
Ponens when Cardinal Tripepi died, raised before the Ordinary Congre-
gation, the issue whether or not the Commissions, that is, the mandate that
the Cause should be introduced, should be signed.
The Cardinals and Consultants listened to the Cardinal's report, and
cast their favorable vote, but subordinated it to the approval of His Holi-
ness. The next day the Holy Father, Pius X, signed the Commission's verdict.
This papal signature presents a peculiar feature: it has the word Placet
followed by the Pope's Christian name received at Baptism. In this instance
it read: Placet, Josephus. Once this was done, the Secretary of the Congre-
gation of Rites, Bishop Panici, wrote out the decree that was made public
by posting it on the church doors, and by publication in the Bulletin ofActa
Apostolicae Sedis.
Here is the translated text:
God, the Maker and Supreme Lord of the human family, just as in times
gone by, so also in our times, provides with care for the ills of the Christian
Society by coming to its assistance with suitable help and remedies made
evident by chosen people, outstanding because of their brilliant and opera-
tive virtues and who seem to succeed in having all people share their vital,
life-giving spirit, and their flaming ardor.
In the century just past, one of these men sent by Divine Providence
was Father John Bosco, who defended and enriched God's Church. He
followed the footsteps of Saint Joseph Calasanzius, St. Vincent de Paul,
and St. John Baptiste de la Salle, and others of equal virtue and stature by
making himself all to all, that all might be saved. Together with the Pious
Society that he founded, along with other institutions which he also founded,
he devoted his whole life to the task of leading men to their eternal salva-
tion, and especially to the task of educating and instructing young people
in their religion and in the field of studies and/or the arts.
The Servant of God was born August 16, 1815, in Murialdo, close to
Castelnuovo d'Asti. He was the son ofhonest, pious parents, Francis Bosco
and Margaret Occhiena. He lost his father at the tender age of three, and
grew up under the loving, watchful care of his widowed mother, who gave

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all her children a luminous example of devotion to work, honesty and
virtue. While living at home and with much love, this pious child worked
in the fields to earn his keep.
He gave proof of his talent and of his extraordinary memory at the age
of ten, when he first began to study under the guidance of Father Calosso,
the chaplain of his town, who gave him hospitality and considered him a
pleasant student. When his teacher died some time later, John did not
relinquish his studies completely, but did go back to his work in the field
as a peasant and as a shepherd for some time, until his pious mother agreed
to further his earnest desire to study. She sent him everyday to Castelnuovo,
some ten kilometers away from home, where he regularly attended classes
in the municipal public school, and at the same time he learned the first
rudiments of Latin from his pastor.
Later he moved to Chieri; he went through five years of high school
from which he graduated with distinction, besides getting a good reputation
and winning as well several prizes. At the same time, he did all he could
to encourage the good boys in his class to persevere along the path of virtue,
while he tried to lead the more wayward pupils back to the right path. In
order to accomplish this, John invited all the boys at set hours on certain
days to meet for what he called the Cheerfulness Club. At these gatherings
he entertained the boys with innocent games suitable for their age, alter-
nating games with prayers. Among other fruits of this youthful activity we
can count the conversion of a young Jew to the Catholic Faith, to the joy
of his companions.
The choice of this way of life and of these occupations can only be
construed as a preparation for a nobler calling. In his uncertainty as to the
way of life he ought to choose, the Servant of God turned for advice to
the pastor of Castelnuovo, the Rev. Cinzano, and more particularly to the
Rev. Joseph Cafasso, now Saint, whose advice and example he followed
thereafter.
In 1834, at the age of twenty, he received his clerical cassock. This
happened in the church dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, in Castel-
nuovo, and on the feast of St. Michael the Archangel, September 29th. On
that occasion, he wrote down several pious resolutions which he read in
front of the picture of the Vrrgin Mary, with a firm will to be faithful to
them.
With the help of Saint Joseph Cafasso, he then enrolled in the Arch-
diocesan Seminary of Chieri, and remained there for six years to study
philosophy and theology. He won a special prize every year. He also studied

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
Ecclesiastical History, Greek, Hebrew, French, and other subjects. He was
overjoyed when, together with a few devout companions, among whom
Louis Comollo was particularly commendable, he was allowed by his
Superiors to receive Holy Communion several times a week, although at
that time this was entirely unusual. During his stay at the Chieri Seminary,
he continued among the dayboys and boarders of Chieri the apostolic work
first started at Murialdo and Castelnuovo.
After he had received the Orders of Sub-Diaconate and Diaconate, only
a few days before he was ordained a priest, he drew up and committed to
paper new, and more detailed resolutions for his future life. After his
ordination, he celebrated his first Mass in Turin, in the church of St. Francis
of Assisi; his second Mass, in the church of Our Lady of Consolation; the
third and fourth Masses in Chieri, and on the feast of Corpus Christi he
celebrated his solemn Mass at Castelnuovo, with a great participation of
people. On his way home that evening, he passed by the very spot where
he once had a presentiment of his apostolic work among children, and he
gave thanks to God, using Psalm 112: Laudate, pueri Dominum [Praise the
Lord, ye children].
Margaret, his pious mother, welcomed her son John, now a priest, with
maternal joy and affection and exhorted him to meditate on and imitate
Jesus Who suffered so much for our sake. For herself, she only asked him
to pray for her, and to remember her always when he said Mass.
He went to Turin in the summer of 1841, and on the advice of Saint
Joseph Cafasso, attended courses in Moral Theology and Sacred Eloquence
for three years, while he devoted his priestly ministry to prisons and
hospitals. He then began to gather together some boys and homeless
children, in churches, oratories, or elsewhere, on feast days, in order to give
them some sort of education. He met with many difficulties and obstacles,
but with the help of God he overcame them, and finally he took refuge in
a house located in the borough of Valdocco, near Turin, as though he had
at last reached the harbor.
When this house, or shed to describe it more accurately, was trans-
formed within one single week to something fairly decent, the Servant of
God obtained the necessary authorization to solemnly bless it, and he
dedicated it to Almighty God in honor of St. Francis de Sales, on Sunday,
April 12, 1846. The Archbishop ofTurin, Louis Fransoni, granted a number
of privileges to the Oratory and to its Rector, while King Charles Albert
took it under his protection.

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Later, he opened two more oratories, dedicating one to St. Aloysius
Gonzaga, the other to the Guardian Angel. These were attended by over
five hundred boys. He also opened day, night, and Sunday schools for the
benefit of young apprentices. When the number of pupils continued to
increase uninterruptedly, he selected a few boys from among them, and
gave them special courses so that they, in their tum, could teach their
companions in his Oratories and schools.
In April 1847 he was so moved by the abject poverty and destitution
of some of the boys that he welcomed them, with open arms, to the little
house he had rented next door to the Oratory to provide living quarters for
himself and his mother, who helped him get what was needed to feed and
educate the young guests. This humble dwelling was the cradle of the
Home of St. Francis of Sales, which housed thirty boys in 1851, and four
hundred boys in 1860, when the premises had been enlarged, while in 1870
the total reached eight hundred.
At first, Don Bosco found employment for the boys in the workshops
of the city, so that they could learn, or pursue their various crafts. He would
often visit these workshops, to inquire how they were behaving themselves,
and about the progress they were making in their work. Later, in his desire
to better protect their morals, and their faith, he opened workshops at the
Oratory, in 1865. Whenever he saw that some ofthe boys were distinguishing
themselves among their companions for greater talent and virtue and seemed
fit, he would introduce them to the study of Letters and Sciences. He him-
selftaught them until he found some priests willing to help him from among
the professors of the Diocesan Seminary, when it was closed and the Arch-
bishop of Turin, Louis Fransoni, had been sent into exile.
The history of the Oratory and Hospice up to 1870 was proud to record
as their products several priests who later held positions in the archdiocese
and were of great service, not only to the Turin Archdiocese, but to other
Dioceses of the Piedmont Region as well.
In educating boys, John Bosco always bore in mind the divine maxim:
Initium sapientiae timor Domini [The Fear of God is the beginning of
wisdom]. He therefore educated them with a method of loving vigilance
and preventive charity. At the same time, he never allowed them to be idle,
even for a single moment, but kept them occupied in suitable innocent
games. It was with this thought in mind that he introduced the subjects of
gymnastics and music into their school curriculum.
In order that the Institution he had founded for the benefit of Youth
might not disappear as time went on, but might become a permanent

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
institution, the Servant of God founded the Salesian Society in 1859 in
Turin, after consulting with men of great wisdom, notably with St. Joseph
Cafasso. The Roman Pontiff, Pius IX, personally and verbally supported
this project. By unanimous decision of the Chapter Members, Don Bosco
was designated as its Director, with the title of Rector Major. The Society
grew and prospered more and more, day after day, and in 1864 it was
praised, and commended by the Apostolic See, which approved and con-
firmed it with a decree on March 1, 1869.
In the meantime, a pious priest, Dominic Pestarino, in his native vil-
lage, Momese, in the diocese of Acqui, had founded a Congregation for
women, called the Daughters of Mary. Subsequently, the title of Help of
Christians was added to Mary's name. At Father Pestarino's request, John
Bosco adopted it as his own, and appointed a Salesian as its Director in
1872, when the original founder died. Thus, the religious community of
the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians was considered a second order
of the Salesian Society, to which a Third Order, the Pious Union of Coopera-
tors for men and women, was soon added. This was approved by the Apos-
tolic See on May 9, 1876, and endowed with privileges and indulgences.
Then came the Salesian Bulletin, and the popular historical and litur-
gical publications, the Catholic Readings, that were also used in schools,
to promote and increase with sound doctrine the spirit of unity and charity
among the Salesian Confreres, and to ward off the snares and errors of evil
people and of heretics.
Lastly, we should recall: the Missions spread out and flourishing in
different parts of Europe and of the American Continent; the Association,
popularly known as the Association ofthe Sons ofMary, meant to cultivate
adult vocations for priestly and religious life in over fifty Houses; the many
handsomely decorated churches built in several regions, foremost among
them being the church of Mary Help of Christians in Turin and the Church
of the Sacred Heart at Castro Pretorio in Rome, which was built at the
request of Pope Leo XIII and consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
together with a vast boarding school which provides different academic
fields of study and technical education for the young.
The Servant of God was spared neither financial straits nor contra-
dictions, but, with the help of God, he overcame everything with a sub-
missive spirit, with extraordinary patience and fortitude. Don Bosco, hard
hit by such troubles and weakened by tremendous weariness, on December
20, 1887, was stricken by a disease that lasted nearly forty days. Growing
steadily worse, yet comforted by the Sacraments of Holy Church, Don

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45
Bosco still gave suitable and helpful advice to anyone who went to see him.
He exhorted his closest collaborators, Father Michael Rua and Bishop John
Cagliero, to inform the other Salesians about his last recommendations. As
he was dying, he warmly recommended his own soul, and his Congre-
gation, to the Archbishop of Turin, Cardinal Cajetan Alimonda. He was
privileged to receive the blessing of the Archbishop of Paris, Cardinal
Richard, who was on his way back to his diocese from Rome, and who
obliged by imparting his blessing. This he did on condition that, in his turn,
Don Bosco might bless him and his whole diocese.
Almost every day during his illness he received the Divine Eucharist
with devotion. He received it for the last time on the feast of St. Francis
of Sales. He kept on repeating: Fiat voluntas tua. ... In manus tuas, Domi-
ne . .. Maria, Mater gratiae ... Diligite inimicos vestros. ... Quaerite reg-
num Dei ... AlterAlterius onera ponate. Exemplum bonorum operum [Your
will be done.... Into your hands, 0 Lord ... Mary, Mother of Grace ...
Love Your enemies.... Seek God's kingdom.... Carry one another's bur-
den.... the example of good deeds]. Early in the morning on January 31,
1888, as he heard the bells ring out, he hailed the blessed Virgin and cried
out, "Long Live Mary!" A little while later, at around five A.M., in the pres-
ence of all of the Superiors and of the members representing the entire
Congregation, teary-eyed and with many prayers on their lips, Don Bosco
passed away. Their beloved founder and master, John Bosco, had fallen
asleep in the Lord.
As soon as word of his death spread, the whole city was plunged into
sorrow and mourning. A vast crowd of people from Turin and visitors to
the city hastened to see Don Bosco' s body vested in priestly robes, as it
lay for public viewing in the church of St. Francis of Sales, where solemn
rites for the dead were celebrated. His remains were then transported to the
Missionary school at Valsalice that had only recently been opened, where
they were received with great solemnity and given honorable burial.
Meanwhile, the fame of the Servant of God's holiness that had already
been acknowledged during his lifetime increased so extensively after his
death that an Ordinary Process was initiated, and later transferred to the
Sacred Congregation ofRites. When everything was ready and his writings
had been examined, nothing remained to obstruct further proceedings,
which were requested by the Rev. John Baptist Marenco, the Procurator
and Postulator General of the Salesian Congregation. On the basis of the
Postulatory Letters received from several Cardinals of the holy Church,

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
from a number of Bishops, from Cathedral Chapters, and from Superiors
of Religious Orders, His Eminence Cardinal Joseph Calasanzius Vives y
Tuto, the Ponens or Relator of the Cause, submitted the following question
for debate to the Ordinary Congregation of Sacred Rites in the Vatican, on
the day specified hereunder: Should the Commission's verdict to introduce
the Cause be signed under the circumstances and for the reasons sub-
mitted? The report was then read aloud by the Cardinal Ponens in person,
after which the Rev. Alexander Verde, Promoter of the Faith, delivered his
verbal declaration, and read a written statement. Then, after careful exami-
nation, the Cardinals and other Reverend Officers of the Sacred Congre-
gation of Rites decided that they should formulate an affirmative answer,
namely, that if it so pleases His Holiness, the Commission's verdict should
be signed.
July 23, 1907
Whereupon, the Cardinal here undersigned, Prefect ofthe Sacred
Congregation of Rites, reported on the above to the Holy Father,
Pius X, and His Holiness ratified the verdict of the Sacred Congre-
gation, and deigned to set his signature to the Commission's ver-
dict of Introduction of the Cause of the Venerable Servant of God,
John Bosco, priest, and Founder of the Pious Salesian Society, on
the 28th day of this same month and year.
Seraphinus, Cardinal Cretoni
Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Rites
Diomedus Panici
Archbishop of Laodicea
Secretary of the S.C. of Rites
With this decree the Cause was introduced; i.e., the Holy See had
sanctioned the proceedings all the way to his canonization. By virtue of
this decree, no further action in connection with the Cause might be
undertaken by any ecclesiastical authority without authorization from the
Sacred Congregation of Rites. Once the cause was introduced, the Servant
of God was entitled to the appellation of Venerable, which still does not
authorize any public cult.1 Don Bosco's successor, interpreting the general
1 A Decree issued by the Congregation of Rites on August 26, 1913, and included in the Code of Canon Law,
has now established that this appellation be conferred on Servants of God only after the heroicity of the virtues has
been duly confirmed, and acknowledged.

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Declaring Don Bosco Venerable
47
feeling, intoned a jubilant hymn as soon as he received the official com-
munication of the decree. On August 6th, he wrote to all his beloved sons
in the Congregation as follows:
"Don Bosco is now Venerable! This is the good news we have been
waiting for and have longed for. It has finally gone through the telegraph
wires and has reached us the evening of July 24th just past. This is the
joyous announcement that has been reprinted in newspapers of all lan-
guages, and has gladdened the hearts of all Don Bosco' s countless friends
and admirers. I am sure that our missionaries have already heard the echo
of this happy event, even though they are far away in the immense, desert
wastelands of America.
"Nevertheless, I did not want to make any official announcement to
you before having the opportunity to read with my own eyes the decree
of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, and imprint a grateful kiss on that
signature with which the Supreme Pontiff, Pius X, agreed to confirm the
favorable vote. It was our good Procurator General, Father John Marenco,
who played such an important part in conducting the proceedings up to
their triumphant conclusion, who recently gave me this ineffable conso-
lation when he called on me and personally delivered the precious docu-
ment.
"Don Bosco is Venerable! When I had the sad duty to inform with
trembling hand the Salesian Congregation that Don Bosco had died, I wrote
that that was the saddest news I had ever given, or would have to give, in
my whole life. Now, the news that Don Bosco is Venerable is the sweetest,
most cherished announcement that I could possibly give you before I, too,
go to my grave. As I think of it, a joyous hymn of thanksgiving bursts from
my heart. Iffor many years we witnessed our beloved Father overwhelmed
by the weight of unspeakable suffering, sacrifices and persecutions, how
consoling it is to see the Catholic Church engaged in his glorification before
the whole world. If we ever had had any doubts about our Pious Society
being the work of God, now our spirit can be at peace, since, in its ineffable
wisdom, the Church has declared our Founder, Venerable. How grateful
we should be to the Supreme Pontiff, Pius X, who graciously proposed the
Cause of Don Bosco to the examination of the Sacred Congregation, far
sooner than is usually done, even when people die in the odor of sanctity!
"When the Ponens of Don Bosco's Cause, Cardinal Vives y Toto,
congratulated the Pious Salesian Society on Don Bosco' s Venerability, he
spoke of him in such a way that we wept for joy, and realized how Divine
Providence had blessed us by allowing us to be his sons. We are continually

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
receiving letters of congratulations from all parts of the world, written by
illustrious people who share the joy of the Salesian family. May God and
Mary Help of Christians be glorified for everything, and may everything
enhance the glory of Don Bosco. May the words of the Gospel come true:
qui se humiliat, exaltabitur [he who humbles himself, shall be exalted]."
This reference to Cardinal Vives y Tuto requires an explanation. Only
a few hours after the audience of Cardinal Cretoni with the Pope, His
Eminence had called in person at the House of the Sacred Heart to extend
his cordial congratulations to the Salesians, and told the Provincial, Father
Conelli: "I did not come here solely to congratulate the Congregation, but
also to pray in the temple that Don Bosco built for the Sacred Heart, so
that I may commend my soul to him, as my patron in Heaven. I am very
glad that I was obliged to make a profound study of Don Bosco's life,
because it helped me realize how great a Saint he was. When we see a
Congregation that does truly good work (as your Congregation does), we
may safely say: 'A Saint was undoubtedly its very root and foundation.'
But I myself touched all this with my own hands, since I recently had to
study the life of your Founder, Don Bosco. What Heavenly charisms he
had! One might easily say that God revealed to him the future of his
Congregation, of his sons and his pupils in what seemed almost like a
continuous cinematographic projection! And what treasures of virtue did
he possess, besides his Heavenly charisms ! He loved Our Lady with a love
that equals the love of the greatest saints; his devotion to the Passion of
Our Lord nearly suffocated him; he possessed all the religious virtues to
perfection. And as an infallible mark of sanctity, he was extraordinary even
in ordinary things, so that nothing would transpire in his everyday life.
"You see, I have made an extensive study of Don Bosco's life, and
more and more do I realize how providential a figure he was. Last Monday,
I was still working at one-thirty in the morning, to prepare for the hearing
on Tuesday. Eight Cardinals attended the hearing, which was very favor-
able. Believe me, it is already a prodigious thing that, after a life so full
of contacts with all kinds of people, the Cause of his Beatification should
have been introduced only nineteen years after his death. The whole world
is moved by this decree, and it will surely procure extraordinary graces for
everybody, according to each person's state of life. For my part, I have
chosen Don Bosco as my very special patron." This was the gist of the
Cardinal's conversation.2
2 Fr. Conelli's letter to Fr. Rua, Rome, July 25, 1907.

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Declaring Don Bosco Venerable
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The decree of July 24, 1907, removed all signs of mourning from Don
Bosco's tomb, loosened the tongues of all people in order to magnify Don
Bosco's natural and supernatural greatness, and urged them to follow his
example. Even Heaven seemed to want to ratify that decree.
Sister Joan Lenci, a Daughter of Mary Help of Christians, had been
confined to her bed with an intestinal tumor for almost two years. The
doctors no longer held out any hopes for her recovery. But Sister Joan put
her trust in the intercession of the Servant of God, and began a novena in
his honor. The novena ended July 23, 1907, exactly the day when it was
a question of introducing Don Bosco' s Cause before the Congregation of
Rites.
That morning, the poor nun was unable to endure any longer the ago-
nizing pain from which she suffered, so she put a relic of Don Bosco on
her chest. She then dozed off for a while, and when she reopened her eyes,
she saw the Servant of God standing beside her bed. He beckoned, as if
bidding her rise, and then he disappeared. The nun got out of bed. She was
completely cured. That very day she went to the Shrine of Mary Help of
Christians, and the next day to Valsalice, as a pilgrim. As we are writing
this incident, Sister Joan lives in the Salesian Religious community ofFoglizzo.
The enthusiasm aroused by the decree found expression in many fer-
vent demonstrations, especially where the Salesians happened to have
Houses. No one recalled any similar rejoicing the whole world over, nor
such solemn thanksgiving services for any other Venerable.
At the Valdocco Oratory, the celebration was set for January 30, 1908,
the eve of the twentieth anniversary of Don Bosco' s death. The city ofTurin
was represented by its foremost citizens.
With permission from the Holy See, the Archbishop of Pisa, Cardinal
Maffi, addressed the congregation to express, with noble eloquence, the
sentiments of the city that was proud to claim Don Bosco as its own. He
chose as his theme the scriptural text: Ut palma florebit, pointing out that
the flowering of Don Bosco's life and undertakings was just like the
flowering of the palm tree.
There was something he felt he ought to stress for his own sake, as well
as for all others'. Amazed at the gigantic development of Don Bosco's
undertakings, many people, too many people in fact, look only at the
external aspect of Don Bosco's works and fail to delve into the reason for
their inner vitality. "Too often do we stop and look at some rosy face,
without giving a thought to the heart which must beat in order to give the
cheek its color," he said. "We may admire the petal as it unfolds, the orange

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
as it assumes a golden blush, but we do not think about the pale, hidden
roots that, with motherly anxiety, wrest life for the plant from the soil. The
reason for and the power of the development of the Salesian undertakings
must be seen in connection with the growth and throbbing of Don Bosco' s
soul. The palm grew into leaves because pure and abundant was the sap
which flooded it from within. The secret of his creations, his conquests,
was to be found in his charity and in his virtue. I will not enter here into
the mystery of grace, nor into the economy of its manifestations, but I must
draw the following conclusion: the religious and charitable undertakings
founded by Don Bosco stemmed from that holiness which, with greatest
care, he cultivated above all else, within his soul."
This eminent speaker, who had seen Don Bosco in his normal sphere
of action in October 1883, described as follows what he had seen: "After
he had talked with me and blessed me, I saw him seated on a plain chair
in a comer of the church of Mary Help of Christians, surrounded by
children. He listened to them; he talked with them, and then sent them to
receive Jesus. I saw how he loved them and how he was loved in return.
He was all for all, in order to give God to all and all to God. It then seemed
quite natural to me that in that place, heroic, apostolic souls would be
formed quite spontaneously and that workers would come from it who
praised God while working and that boys would be found who defended
their innocence jealously in workshops and in the classrooms. Priests
would be formed who could live as religious monks and diocesan priests,
pupils, and teachers, writers, and printers, men of letters who published
Latin and Italian Classics, men competent in writing popular literature with
the Catholic Readings, musicians, and architects, and Missionaries ready
to depart for faraway places, ever ready to go wherever charity might call
them. I am not surprised at all when I see these forms, these manmade
creations: such the plant, such its fruits!"
Then, as the speaker looked into the future, toward the brightness of
the day already heralded by the dawn, he foresaw for the city of Turin the
rapture of a triumphant return that words could never describe, and at
which tears of joy would be shed, not only in Salesian Houses, but the
whole world over. It all came true, just as he had predicted.

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Q!qapter 4
From the Apostolic Processes to the Decree on the
Heroicity of Don Bosco's Virtues
There are two processes conducted, by the Apostolic Authority at the
Episcopal Curiae. The first process deals mainly with the virtues of a
Servant of God, and consists of two phases. During the first phase, which
is called inchoative, only the testimony of old or sick people is heard, and
it is therefore also known as a process ne pereant probationes [lest there
be no proofs]. When all these witnesses have been heard, all the documents
pertaining to this phase are kept at the Curia until instructions are received
from the Sacred Congregation of Rites, authorizing the Curia to proceed
with the second phase, which is called continuativa. During this second
phase, witnesses of any age or condition are questioned and all the docu-
ments that the Postulator may choose to submit are accepted. When this
second phase is over, copies are made of everything. The findings of the
first and second phases are collated and are sent to the Sacred Congregation
of Rites. But the continuativa phase cannot start before another apostolic
process super f ama sanctitatis in genere [on the general reputation of
holiness] has taken place, to ascertain the origins, range and perseverance
of such reputation. Copies of the findings are made for use during the
Roman discussions on the question of the general reputation of holiness.
These things are easy to speak about, but they involve time-consuming,
meticulous procedures, which sometimes produce surprises. Here we can-
not do anything more than give a very brief summary of these apostolic
processes, touching only upon the highlights.
At the request of the Postulator, the Litterae Remissiorales [Remissory
Letters] were sent from Rome to the Archbishop of Turin on April 4, 1908,
in order that the Archbishop might proceed with the inchoative process,
but not before Rome had completed its examination of the ordinary process
de non cultu. This examination ended with the approval of the Rota division
of the Sacred Congregation of Rites on June 23rd and with the ratification
by the Holy Father on July 8th. Once all the secondary formalities had been
completed, a formal application for execution ofthe Litterae Remissiorales
[Remissory Letters] was submitted on May 21, 1909, to the Archbishop
of Turin, Cardinal Richelmy, by the Assistant Postulator, Father Rinaldi.

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
His Eminence formed a tribunal three days later, and scheduled its first
hearing for the 28th ofthat month. Regular hearings were then held without
any significant interruptions. Twelve witnesses were called. As a rule, the
inchoative process does not last more than two years, but in our specific
case it was necessary to ask for an extension, in order that other witnesses
be heard. The Sacred Congregation authorized this extension on January
13, 1911. Meanwhile, Father John Marenco had been appointed Bishop of
Massa Carrara, so he was obliged to relinquish the offices of Procurator
and Postulator to Father Dante Munerati.
The hearings continued for a few more months, after which the Turin
Tribunal prepared for its hearings on the general reputation of holiness.
This process was relatively short, and on January 9, 1913, it could be
forwarded to Rome, where the Sacred Congregation of Rites opened it and
undertook its review on the 17th of that same month.
The Ponens, Cardinal Vives y Tuto, died the following year, and by
order of Pius X, the vacant position was filled by Cardinal Ferrata who did
not live more than a year longer. Benedict XV appointed Cardinal Vico as
Ponens and His Eminence conducted the hearings up to the final approval,
and to the ratification of the inchoative process on July 13 and 14, 1915.
At the request advanced by the Postulator, the Sacred Congregation
then granted the Litterae Remissioriales [Remissory Letters], so that the
continuativa phase of the apostolic process might begin. Due to necessary
formalities, the first hearing was not held until February 12, 1916. Nineteen
witnesses were summoned and questioned in little more than a year, and
the apostolic process on Don Bosco's virtues in particular were now over.
While the acts of the process were being transcribed, the Tribunal pro-
ceeded with its canonical identification of Don Bosco's mortal remains, in
conformity with ecclesiastic laws.
The ceremony was carried out from October 13 to October 15, 1917,
at which time the members of the Tribunal went to Valsalice several times,
and met there with two expert physicians, Peynetti and Velasco, and a few
officers from the Municipal Health Department. The report made by the
first physician provides us with the details, which are set forth next.
After the coffin was removed from the vault, the outer, wooden coffin1
was opened, and it was found that the second coffin inside had suffered
damage from humidity, even though it had been hermetically closed, and
1 This coffin was in good condition because it had replaced the former coffin opened in 1904, as described
a few lines ahead.

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The Decree on the Heroicity of Don Bosco s Virtues
53
the seals were still intact. They removed the lid, and the third zinc coffin
became visible. This third coffin had suffered considerable damage and had
been partially destroyed, because of something that had occurred thirteen
years previously. With the consent of the civil authorities and in the pres-
ence of Cardinal Richelmy, Don Bosco' s body had been exhumed in secret
in 1904, to ascertain the condition of the coffin and its contents, as well as
to gratify the pious wishes of the Members attending the Tenth General
Chapter of the Society, then in session at Valsalice. They were all anxious
to look once again at the mortal remains of their beloved Father. At that
time, one of the municipal physicians had seen fit to pour an excessive
quantity of mercury chloride inside the third coffin, and the corrosive action
of the chemical had eaten into the metal.
When the zinc lid was removed, "instead of the customary cadaverous
stench, we noticed a singular odor that was not in the least disagreeable,"
Paynetti wrote. "I might even say that it was definitely like a pleasant
perfume." The corpse appeared mummified. The head was covered entirely
by almost blackened skin, and was turned slightly to the left. The hair was
well-preserved. The eyes beneath the closed lids were gone, but the eye-
brows and eyelashes were still there. Inside the open mouth, we saw
shrunken gums, in which three upper and five lower teeth were still embed-
ded. The soft parts were all dried up, but the tongue could not be seen. The
nose was well-preserved, but its tip was somehow turned to the left; the
outer ears seemed intact, and so was the neck, although we could glimpse
the protruding larynx, covered by teguments. The arms were straight on
both sides of the body, with blackened skin on the hands. The fingers were
well- preserved, the fingernails still in place. The body and the upper and
lower limbs were covered by the vestments: chasuble, alb, cassock, socks,
and shoes, all still in good condition, but stained by the corrosive chemical.
This process of identification began on Saturday, October 13th; it was
suspended on Sunday, October 14th, and completed on Monday, October
15th. The coffins were closed, sealed once more, and put back into the vault,
to await a more solemn identification. A special report on all that had
transpired was then drawn up.
When the above-mentioned transcription was completed, all the paper-
work was sent to Rome on November 26, 1918. This completed the task
of the ecclesiastical judges of the Turin Tribunal.
We believe that what we wrote about the Turin Tribunal in Chapter 2
was sufficient to give some idea of its constitution. We did not think it
necessary to keep our readers informed on all the subsequent changes that

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
took place. But we must not omit to say that although some of the members
of the Tribunal had to be replaced by others, yet its diligent action never
stopped, and it was actually praised in a letter written by the Rector Major,
Father Paul Albera, on February 22, 1918, to all the Salesians: "I would be
neglecting a very sacred duty were I not to pay a well-merited tribute and
extend a cordial vote of thanks, on behalf of our entire Congregation, to
the Reverend Members of the ecclesiastical Tribunal, who, for so many
years, have shouldered incredible sacrifices to conduct these lengthy, intri-
cate processes to a successful conclusion. No reward could ever compen-
sate the Tribunal as it deserves."
The Sacred Congregation of Rites opened its examination of the acts
on December 6, 1918, and the revision of these acts did not end until July
1st of the following year, 1919. Then the examination of the validity of the
ordinary and apostolic processes began. On June 8, 1920, the Cardinals and
Consultants of the Sacred Congregation met to pronounce their judgment;
they listened to the report of the Cardinal Ponens, and cast a favorable vote.
The next day, His Holiness ratified their decision, and approved the relative
Re script.
At this point, a sudden obstacle brought the proceedings to an abrupt
halt. The real role of the Devil's Advocate, if we may use the expression,
throughout the Cause of Don Bosco was played by Canon Colomiatti, the
prosecuting advocate for the archdiocesan Curia of Turin.
Deeply attached to Archbishop Gastaldi' s memory and his conviction
that throughout their whole controversy only Don Bosco had been at fault,
he found no peace in his eagerness to see his thesis triumph, and made
every conceivable effort to steer the Cause into a blind alley. The additional
examination of Don Bosco' s writings in connection with the relationship
between the Archbishop and Don Bosco did not have, as we know, any
impact on the Canon. But the examination found its climactic moment in
the magnificent vindication provided by the resulting verdict, as we also
know. While the Turin Curia was preparing the apostolic process, Canon
Colomiatti, driven by his conviction, submitted to the Congregation of
Rites a package of negative depositions regarding the writings about which
there was now no further doubt, and also regarding the life of the Servant
of God. Additionally, he even went to Rome to support his depositions with
an oral confirmation, and to produce new ones.
The Congregation sent everything to Cardinal Richelmy, with the
following instructions from the secretary: "From the contents of these

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55
depositions, it becomes obvious how essential it is that the Tribunal inves-
tigating the virtues of Venerable Don Bosco evaluate, as well, the impor-
tance of the facts alleged by the Rev. Canon Colomiatti. Your Eminence
would therefore be well-advised to hand over these documents to the
ecclesiastical Tribunal in order that: a) they may be subjected to a careful
investigation, wherein any witnesses who may be in a position to cast new
light on the facts should be duly questioned, and witnesses who have
already testified should be recalled, if necessary; b) the Tribunal should
conduct an inquiry regarding the persons from whom Rev. Colomiatti
learned the facts alleged. If they are still alive, official summons should be
issued to them; if they are dead, then inquiry should be made to ascertain
who they were, what they were like, whether they had any rancor against
the Venerable Don Bosco and, if so, for what reason. Together with the
above-mentioned material there are certified copies of several documents
that I found here in the Secretariat. As is self-evident, the findings of these
investigations, which have to be carried out, should be collected and tran-
scribed for use at a separate short process. Once this short process is
completed, no one will be free from the bond of secrecy, as its results should
be handed over to the Sacred Congregation of Rites, together with the
results of the Apostolic Process on the herocity of virtues.
Empowered by the mandate from the Archbishop, the Turin Tribunal
opened a scrupulous investigation. The outcome could not have been more
favorable to the Cause. Nevertheless, when the findings of the Turin inquiry
were examined in Rome, a few doubts still remained, and required clari-
fication. So the Sacred Congregation of Rites ordered a new investigation
on October 16, 1921, for the benefit of the Cardinals who were to cast their
vote on the validity of the above-mentioned process. The necessary mate-
rial was prepared, and the complicated details were discussed during sev-
eral sessions, until, at last, on July 4, 1922, the Cardinals and Consultants
met for a detailed briefing. The result was that the Turin hearings were
pronounced valid, since the rules of procedure prescribed by the code of
Canon Law and the instructions issued by the Sacred Congregation of Rites
to the Bench had been scrupulously obeyed. It was therefore possible to
proceed ad ulteriora, that is, to the discussion on Don Bosco's merit.
This meant that the last phase of the Cause was now at hand, and the
three major Congregations, distinguished by the names anti-preparatory,
preparatory, and general, were now imminent.

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
We use the term 'imminent' loosely, because lengthy preparations still
lay ahead. We should explain that before these Congregations hold ses-
sions, a threefold study is necessary. Since the object of these studies is
casting a vote on the virtues after mature discussions, the Advocate of the
Cause must first of all prepare and have printed a summary of all the
depositions made during the various processes, listing under different
headings everything that is necessary to prove 1) the validity and impor-
tance of the testimonial statements made to shed light on the life and deeds
of the Servant of God, and to demonstrate how he exercised to a heroic
degree, both collectively and individually, all the theological, cardinal, and
other virtues; 2) the legitimacy and consistency of the reputation of sanc-
tity, based on the heroicity of all virtues, and further enhanced by the graces
and miracles obtained through the intercession of the Servant of God.
As a preface to all this work, the Advocate submits both general and
detailed information regarding the juridical evidence, and also regarding
all the virtues. The General Promoter of the Faith then lists his objections
against the validity of the proofs, and against all the virtues. In a second
instance, the Advocate answers his objections, removing all difficulties so
that there may be no further doubt.
While these examinations were in progress, the Pope chosen by Divine
Providence to experience the joy of elevating Don Bosco to the glory of
the altars had ascended to St. Peter's throne in February 1922. We use the
word joy because, when still a young priest, Pius XI had known and
understood the Servant of God,2 and had felt the greatest esteem for his
virtues and admiration for his undertakings. Later, it became evident that,
in his innermost heart, he had longed to crown him with the glorious
splendor of the Blessed and the halo of the Saints. On June 25, 1922, he
had already told us how he felt about Don Bosco. On that day, he granted
an audience to the Superiors and pupils of the Salesian House of the Sacred
Heart, who had gone to the Vatican to pay him homage. This is the fatherly
speech he addressed to them:
"Odear among the dearest sons of Jesus Christ, dear particularly to
Us just as the children were dear to Him, Our Divine Model, dear indeed
because you are the seeds and hopes for the future. We are among the
'ancient' friends-I use the word 'ancient' in reference to myself, not in
reference to you, who have not yet any knowledge of 'antiquity'-We are,
and We say it with deep satisfaction, among the 'ancient' personal friends
of the Venerable Don Bosco.
2 See Volume XVI, pp. 252ff.

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"We have seen your glorious Father and Benefactor, We have seen him
with Our own eyes. We were close, like heart to heart, and We had an
exchange ofideas, of thoughts and considerations, an exchange neither too
short nor ordinary. We have seen this great giant and champion of Christian
education. We have observed him in the modest little position that he took
among his own, a position from which he ruled; and his rule was as wide
as the world, and the wider, the more beneficial. This is why We are
enthusiastic admirers of Don Bosco's undertakings. We are happy to have
known him and to have been able to help him, thanks to Divine Grace, with
Our modest contribution towards his undertakings. We have seen his under-
takings in Italy, in Galicia, in Poland, undertakings which stretched from
the Carpathian Mountains to the Baltic. We have seen the sons of this great
man devote themselves, heart and soul, to his so vast, so holy, so beneficent
an undertaking.
"It is therefore a great comfort to Us to be with you today, once again,
after the time appropriately recalled by your young spokesman, when We
had the pleasure of seeing confirmed your scholastic progress, and awarded
with Our own hands the coveted awards to the more deserving among you.
"Our heart is wide open for you; it greets you and congratulates you;
it is happy to see you again. Our heart embraces you all with a great
blessing, as it has been requested through your spokesman. This is a
blessing that embraces all of you who are here today, as well as others
whom you represent and who wish to be represented by you; it embraces
all of you, past pupils, and members of the Association who represent the
fully ripened fruit, the flower, in full bloom, of Don Bosco's Institute; and
all of you, boarders, and the day boys of the Sacred Heart School, and
especially you war-orphans who, because of your misfortune, are particu-
larly dear to Our own heart which, with this blessing, wishes to make a
compensation for your misfortune; all of you brave young scouts, and all
of you who kindly graced this assembly with vocal and instrumental
concerts: this is a blessing which embraces you all. But first and foremost,
it embraces the men who, with dedicated affection, devote their lives to
your education, and who, in the name of Jesus, and of His Servant, the
Venerable Don John Bosco, try to help form your young life based on the
principles of Christian education. This is the way by which they give you
a gift and a treasure of such value that not even an entire life will be long
enough to allow you to fully appreciate it, although you will become
increasingly aware, day after day, hour after hour, of its inestimable and
immense value.

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
"We cannot look at you without looking at the great scene which rises
and is displayed behind you, the scene of thousands, of hundreds of thou-
sands, which have become millions of boys and grown men of the most
varied social conditions and positions in life, who have drawn from the
springs of Venerable Don Bosco the treasures of a Christian education. This
magnificent scene is the greatest, most glorious monument We could ever
raise for him, compared to which, any material monument raised in his
honor would only be a small and insignificant thing.
"In this wide perspective, it is good to feel excited by another solemn
feast celebrated in Turin today, in honor of a glorious son who is the honor
of the Salesian Society, Cardinal John Cagliero. We thank God for having
allowed Us to convey the contribution of Our particular appreciation and
paternal affection to this generous champion of the Salesian cause, which,
because of what he did and the generosity with which he did it, was truly
a missionary work, a work of Christian and civil regeneration of an entire
section of the world.
"From afar We are happy to see at Cardinal Cagliero' s side the worthy
Father John Baptist Francesia, who, despite his modesty, is another genuine
and solid glory of Don Bosco's religious family.
"We are particularly pleased to extend Our blessings to all you Sale-
sians and your pupils, whether you are here with us in this joyous moment,
or far away. May the spirit of God descend upon you and dwell within you;
may He bestow on you all of His graces and favors. May the spirit of God
seal within you students the inestimable treasure of the Christian education
that you now receive, or have previously received, under the guidance of
Don Bosco' s sons. May this treasure remain with you, ripen in you, and
bear ever more abundantly the fruits of which it is an inexhaustible source.
May this divine blessing accompany you wherever you go for the rest of
your life, which, no matter if you are young or old, still lies ahead of you,
waiting to be explored. May this blessing sanctify all of your feelings and
especially your commitment and your resolution to keep inviolate the
benefits you receive from your Christian education, and spread out these
benefits with the example of a generous, courageous loyalty to Jesus Christ,
and to His holy Faith, for this was the privilege which the Venerable Don
Bosco has given you: a sublime and most eloquent example of His holy
Church, and the Holy See.

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"We, Ourselves, had occasion to read and see that in his heart, as We
had the chance to realize he considered as the greatest, above all types of
glory, the glory to be a faithful servant of Jesus Christ, of His Church, and
of His Vicar!"
That very year, when Father Albera died, Father Philip Rinaldi suc-
ceeded him as Rector Major of the Society. Father Stephen Trione took
Father Rinaldi's place as Vice-Postulator. Then, early in 1924, the Postu-
lator, too, was changed, since Father Munerati was appointed Bishop of
Volterra, and the new Procurator, Father Francis Tomasetti, succeeded him
as Postulator and steered the course of the Cause to its triumphant landing
at the harbor.
The studies we mentioned early on were protracted until late in 1925,
when at last the Positio was ready. This comprised the lnformatio, Summa-
rium, Animadversiones, Responsio, and all the votes ofthe theologians who
had examined the writings. It was printed and bound in one enormous
volume that contained over a thousand pages. Copies were given to about
fifty people-Cardinals, theologian Consultants, and Consultant Prelates
at the Sacred Congregation of Rites. Then, forty-five days after the copies
had been distributed, all the above-mentioned people met for the anti-
preparatory Congregation, where they were to deliberate whether or not
Don Bosco had practiced the theological, the cardinal, and the other virtues
to a heroic degree.
On June 30,1925, the session took place [as usual] in the residence of
the Cardinal Ponens. As a rule, the proceedings of this anti-preparatory
Congregation go ahead, even when some of the objections raised are not
fully settled. Besides, at times, the Consultants even submit new objec-
tions. Subsequently, all the unsolved difficulties are properly arranged by
the General Promoter of the Faith who, at that time, was Bishop Salotti.
These difficulties are printed, without any reference to those who raised
them. They are handed to the Advocate that he might study them, provide
answers for them, create another Positio, send it out to be printed, present
copies thereof to the Cardinals and Consultants at least one month before
the date scheduled for the Preparatory Congregation.
The Preparatory Congregation More Solito met on July 30, 1926, in
the Hall called the Hall of the Congregations, in the Vatican. Everyone who
took part in it re-examined the Cause anew and read aloud his own vote
or his opinion. The Consultants then withdrew from the hall, leaving only
the Cardinals and the Officers of the Sacred Congregation of Rites. The
Cardinal Ponens read his report on the virtues of Don Bosco, and on the

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
difficulties that had been solved and those that were not. It was up to the
Cardinals to deliberate whether the proceedings should continue, or whether
another Preparatory Congregation should be convened for a more elabo-
rate examination of the remaining difficulties. In Don Bosco's Cause, the
Cardinals decided that a second Preparatory Congregation was necessary
for a better examination of his heroic virtues, and for a definite elimination
of some of the objections submitted.3 So an alia nova positio with aliae
novae animadversions were introduced by the General Promoter of the Faith,
and an alia nova responsio by the Advocate, for a further study to be made
by the Cardinals and Consultants. At last, during the second Preparatory
Congregation set for December 18, 1926, the Cardinals voted in favor of
continuing the Cause.
This cleared the way for the final discussion to be carried out during
the general Congregation, in the presence of the Pope and with the inter-
vention of the Cardinals and Consultants. For this a novissima positio with
novissimae animadversions and responsio were required. This solemn
assembly took place on February 8, 1927. When the discussion was over,
the final decision was to be made only by the Pope, since the Cardinals
and Consultants had only a consultative vote. Pius XI, once he received
the unanimously favorable vote of the Cardinals, took a few days to reflect
on it and pray. After that, he announced his decision, and gave orders that
the decree on Don Bosco's heroic virtues should be published on the 20th
of the month, which fell on Sexagesima Sunday.
This announcement was made, in the usual form, in the presence of
the Holy Father and his Court. The ceremony assumed an unusual solem-
nity. An immense throng crowded the majestic Hall of the Consistory in
the Apostolic Palace. The Superiors of the Pious Society and the Daughters
of Mary Help of Christians were present, as well as a huge number of
Salesians, Sisters, delegates of Cooperators and past pupils, diocesan del-
egates from Turin and Asti, many people of differing rank, and also tran-
sient visitors to Rome.
When the Pope took his seat on his throne, the Secretary of the Con-
gregation of Rites, Bishop Mariani, approached the steps of the throne,
received the consent of the Holy Father, and read out the Decree. Here is
its translation:
3 Among other things, a request had been filed for further proof of Don Bosco's life of prayer, and of his
powers, as well as for further clarification on the subject of the widely publicized pamphlets (See Vol. XV, pp.
186:ff.). Regarding the first two requests, we have a significant letter from Father Philip Rinaldi in our files (Appen-
dix, Document 8); regarding a third request, a letter from Canon Sorasio (Appendix, Document 9), one from Father
Turchi (Appendix, Document 10), and Don Bosco's own letter to the Cardinal Prefect of the Council. already printed
in the above-mentioned volume, carried weight.

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It would be very difficult to express with words, or to assess the ser-
vices, that the Venerable Servant of God, Don John Bosco, has rendered
to religion and to every facet ofhuman civilization, how much honor he has
provided for the Catholic Church, how many and what kinds of outstanding
actions and examples of virtue he has bequeathed to future generations.
The Venerable Don John Bosco proved himself a worthy minister and
imitator of Him Who said of Himself: I have come to bring fire to earth,
and how I wish it were blazing already (Luke 12:49). If we compare the
financial difficulties that plagued the Servant of God unceasingly and the
opposition which he constantly endured, with the grandeur of his under-
takings and the benefits procured for the human race, we will have to
admire in him not only the priest burning with apostolic zeal, but also the
one sent by God to help especially the young in their particular needs, and
we can not help but recall the words of our Divine Master: The kingdom
of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed. ... This indeed is the smallest
of all seeds, but when it has grown up, it is larger than any shrubs and
becomes a tree, so that the birds ofthe air come and shelter in its branches.
(Matt 13:31-32).
John Bosco was born in the borough of Murialdo, near Castelnuovo
d' Asti; his parents were not wealthy, but were respected for their honesty,
and they lived by their work in the fields. His father died when he was still
a small child, and he was carefully brought up in the principles of the
Christian faith by his widowed mother.
Right from the beginning ofhis life and during his childhood, he appeared
to be destined for greater and wonderful things, for he revealed such a remark-
able abundance of spiritual and physical talents that it seemed certain that
he would have been magnificently successful in whatever direction he might
have turned his life. From his early adolescence he began to feel an urge
to consecrate his life entirely to the glory of God. But he did not have the
means to pursue the necessary studies. Gifted with an intuitive mind and
with a quick memory, he easily won the benevolence of benefactors who
eased his way towards his studies. He went through high school with hon-
ors, and entered the Diocesan Seminary of Chieri, where he applied him-
self to the study of Philosophy and Theology. He was admitted to Sacred
Orders and after his ordination he was appointed assistant pastor. As a curate,
he displayed his ability to act, plus such zeal that in a very short time he
gathered abundant fruits. But Don Bosco's spirit was upset by the sight of
an almost general lack of concern for the Christian education of the young

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
in those days. Very eager to respond to this lack of concern for youth, Don
Bosco devoted most of his compassionate spirit and his constant work to
those children who had no one to take care of them. He resolved to assist
them, instruct them and protect them in every possible way. To make sure
that these boys might not be subsequently deprived of suitable training and
religious guidance, he thought it best to create a religious family to be entirely
dedicated to this goal.
He felt that this project should be carried out with all possible diligence
and without any delay. For this reason, he decided to devote all the talents
with which God had endowed him to achieve this sublime goal for the glory
of His Divine Name and the salvation of souls. This is indeed a singularly
religious and pious undertaking, which would by itself be enough to reveal
the nature of this eminent priest and the holiness of his life. Such an
undertaking entails tremendous efforts, hardships, travels, and a whole
lifetime of ceaseless activity. Despite the lack of means and the demands
that beset the nascent Society, despite the difficulties and the opposition
which arose from all sides, nevertheless the Venerable Servant of God
succeeded in providing what was required, by calling upon the charity of
others. Don Bosco never lost heart in spite of numerous crushing financial
burdens. The Pious Society that he had founded needed so many things,
without which he would have been unable to endure, still less to grow, and
very often he had no resources at all. What did he then do? He simply made
known the serious financial obligations of his Society to rich people, to
obtain from them their generous help, but without using any pressure
tactics.
All the talents and devices suited to form the best of teachers, whether
inborn or acquired through experience, were marvelously united in the
Venerable Servant of God. His soft words reached the hearts of his young-
sters and pupils, whom he welcomed with paternal benevolence, whom he
entertained with pleasant talks, while he trained them in virtue and piety.
He was like a very loving Father who welcomes each of his children with
equal affection, who takes particular care of everyone, who wins over the
affection of all, binding them to himself with the sweet bond of love.
Everything about him was gentleness, and it was evident that no base
desire ever took root in him. The words he used had an effectiveness which
was practically incomprehensible, almost divine, and such as to banish
darkness from the world, move hearts and inspire them to follow and hold
on to the evangelical counsels. He wrote and published numerous books
to instruct the mind and encourage the spirit to embrace piety. This was

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63
the way that the Venerable Don Bosco followed, showing that he was a
worthy priest of God whose tongue poured forth knowledge in order to
instruct the ignorant and rouse the lukewann.
Never for a moment did he neglect this most holy commitment of his
to expand and consolidate the Society he had founded. He even established
a second Society, which he called the Institute of the Daughters of Mary
Help of Christians, which would take care of girls. He placed both these
Societies under the patronage of St. Francis of Sales, whom he had chosen
for his own patron saint, being in a special way a devotee of his.
Not only did he shoulder heavy burdens so that he might ensure the
stability and growth of these two families, but he bravely endured great
hardships and patiently tolerated continued persecution from a source from
which he might rightly have expected to receive staunch support. In addi-
tion to this, he devoted his mind and energy to the welfare of uncivilized,
savage peoples dispersed in remote, almost uninhabitable, parts of the
world, so that they, too, might enjoy the same benefits as everyone else.
Guided as he was by the wisdom, which reaches mightily from end to
end, and orders all things sweetly (Wis 8:1), he lived to see all the tasks
he had undertaken, not to accumulate riches, but solely for the glory of God
and the salvation of souls, crowned with success to the amazement of all,
even of those who would have liked to ignore or belittle the virtue of the
man who had accomplished them. In this way, the name of this priest, John
Bosco, became so renowned that there is today hardly any place in the
world where it is not known and revered.
After his holy death at the age of seventy-three, on the last day of
January, 1888, this great man's reputation for sanctity had become even
more splendid than before, and barely four years after his death his eleva-
tion to the honor of the Altar was taken into consideration. For this reason,
the Ecclesiastical Curia ofTurin correctly instituted the processes, in accor-
dance with the norms of Canon Law, to investigate his life and works. As
a preliminary step, the verdicts of the tribunals were issued as strictly
prescribed by our laws, and then the formal examination of his virtues
began. The inquiry was carried out, scrupulously following that praise-
worthy severity which provided greater reliability and authoritativeness to
all the most serious judgments reached.
The Anti-Preparatory Congregation took place the last day of July
1925, at the residence of His Eminence Cardinal Anthony Vico, Relator of
the Cause. This was followed by two Preparatory Congregations, during
which all the single and various Relator votes issued by the judges were

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
very accurately discussed. At last, on February 8th, the whole Sacred
Congregation of Rites met in the presence of the Holy Father, Pope Pius
XI, and the above-mentioned Cardinal submitted the following question for
deliberation: Whether there was evidence of the heroic practice of the
theological virtues, Faith, Hope, and Charity toward God and his neigh-
bor; of the Cardinal Virtues of Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, and Temper-
ance, and thereto related virtues, in the life ofthe Venerable Servant ofGod,
John Bosco, in the events and circumstances submitted. All the eminent
Cardinals and Most Reverend Consultants answered in the affirmative. The
Holy Father received their affirmative vote with a joyful heart; however,
he decided to delay the issue of a decretal pronouncement, and urged the
assembly to emphasize the solemnity of the occasion and to add fervent
prayers, in order to receive more abundant light from Heaven.
He then chose this day, Sexagesima Sunday, to make his own delib-
erations public. After the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, he
summoned His Eminence Cardinal Anthony Vico, Bishop of Porto and
Santa Rufina, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, and Ponens of
the Cause, together with Bishop Salotti, General Promoter of the Faith, and
the Secretary here undersigned. Then the Pope took his place on the papal
throne, and in their presence he solemnly decreed that it was evident that
the theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity toward God and one's
neighbor, just as the Cardinal virtues of Prudence, Fortitude, and Temper-
ance and related virtues were practiced to a heroic degree by the Venerable
Servant of God, John Bosco, both in themselves and in their effects. He
ordered that the decree should be published and be included in the Acts
of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, on February 20,1927.
After the reading of the decree, Father Tomasetti stepped forward to
express his humble, heartfelt thanks to the Holy Father. The Rector Major,
Father Rinaldi, should have been the one to do this, but he had been forced
to remain in Turin because he was stricken with influenza. Father Tomasetti
was accompanied by the Advocate, Bishop Della Cioppa, by the Procurator
of the Cause, Commendatore Melandri, and by the Postulation Secretary.
He delivered the following address to the Pope:
"Most Holy Father:
"The solemn and authentic declaration pronounced just now,
in the name of Your Holiness, in regard to the heroicity of the
virtues of our Father and Founder, the Venerable Don John Bosco,
has transformed into certainty the intimate conviction that was

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always cherished by the sons who were formed by him and who
had grown up with him since they lived at his side like a family,
and also by a greater number of those sons of his who, during the
forty years that have elapsed since his death, have joined his spiri-
tual family and have been entrusted by his successors to continue
and expand his educational work all over the world.
"The decree pronounced today is the most significant favor
Your Holiness could have granted us, and for this reason our grati-
tude bursts forth from our hearts with more ardent flames of filial
love for your Person, and with deeper attachment and devotion to
the immortal chair of St. Peter.
"I wish I had Don Bosco's outward demeanor, his smile, his
eloquence, and above all his heart, to express our gratitude less
unworthily, for throughout his whole life he was the living incar-
nation of gratitude. At this moment, I wish I had all the gratitude
that Don Bosco cherished in his heart for the Holy Pontiffs Pius
IX and Leo XIII, and for everyone who cooperated with him in
his undertakings, so as to show forth to some degree, the deep,
everlasting gratitude we now feel, and shall always cherish, for
your Holiness, because with this decree, our Father and Founder
is presented to us also as a model to follow.
"We, his sons and disciples, were thoroughly convinced of
his exemplary qualities and virtues by daily living together with
him. But who was there to assure us that our conviction was not
merely the fruit of our great affection for him? Who was there to
tell us with certainty that the novel, boldly modem systems that
he bequeathed to us in his educational apostolate for youth and
the practice of the evangelical perfection, were truly paths we
should follow with a clear conscience?
"This certainty was not guaranteed by the heartening blos-
soming of our Festive Oratories, of our Hospices, Schools and
Missions; it was not guaranteed even by the almost unanimous
opinion of eminent Princes of the Church, prelates, and Bishops;
it was not guaranteed by the endorsement, at first tacit, but later
outspoken, of civil authorities; or by the praise of outstanding
personalities in almost every nation of the earth. . . . This cer-
tainty could only have been guaranteed by Your Holiness, and
you did it for us today.

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
"Don Bosco, the industrious, solicitous and magnificent edu-
cator to sanctity, as evidenced by his children (like Dominic Savio,
Father Michael Rua, Cardinal John Cagliero, Father Paul Albera,
FatherAndrew Beltrami, FatherAugustus Czartorysky, Mother Mary
Mazzarello, to name a few), has been proclaimed by today's decree
a Christian hero. This means that the Supreme Authority has pre-
sented him as a model to be imitated by all those who are already
called, or will be called, to join the ranks of the modem educators
ofyouth, and who now constitute a society, committed to and equipped
with all the weapons suited for today's times and needed to pursue
the call to sanctity, in order to regenerate and sanctify in tum and
at the same time the younger generations.
"The inner life lived by Don Bosco, the Educator, before it
was handed down to the system which he bequeathed to his sons,
shall in the future stand as the norm to be followed for the imple-
mentation of his program to regenerate and sanctify youth, both
in large and small civilized centers, as well as among the savage
tribes where the divine seed of Redemption may be grafted onto
small, tender, virgin plants, with greater confidence in good results.
"Most Holy Father, this is the mission on which we shall hence-
forth concentrate all our efforts, in order that we, with greater ease,
may successfully follow our one true Master, Guide, Model, Our
Lord and Savior Jesus: To imitate Don Bosco in such a way as to
reproduce within us his uninterrupted union with God, his inex-
haustible charity toward his neighbor, his prudence, his unshak-
able fortitude, his kindness that reassures and gladdens every heart,
his immaculate purity which leads to abhor sin to the highest degree
and to yearn incessantly for heavenly things.
"This is what our Father aimed at, and what he has written in
his last will and testament letter to us: 'Your first Rector is dead.
But our real Superior, Jesus Christ, will not die. He will always
remain our Master, our Guide, and our Model!'
"With this resolution to constantly imitate our Father, Don
Bosco, so that we, too, may successfully come to put on Jesus
Christ for the day of glory, and with the confident expectation that
another Decree may approve the miracles submitted for the Beati-
fication of our Venerable Founder, once again we sing out to you,
most, Blessed Father, a hymn of thanksgiving, which bursts forth
from the hearts of the Salesians, of the Daughters of Mary Help

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67
of Christians, of their pupils everywhere, together with our past
pupils, both men and women, in every corner of the globe, and of
all the men and women Cooperators who work with us in the
undertakings bequeathed to us by Don Bosco, and who are all
here with us in spirit to receive your Apostolic Blessing, and to
rekindle within us our good resolution to sanctify our souls."
Visibly overjoyed, the Holy Father responded with a speech
of his own in which he sang the praises of the Venerable Don
Bosco:
"Beloved children, in moments already divinely preordained
by God, the Lord calls forth men to sweep through the firmament
of history much like the great meteors hurtling through the sub-
stellar skies. We may divide such men into two categories, just as
we divide these great meteors, which, at times, are wondrously
beautiful, and at times are terrifying. There are some men who
cause terror wherever they pass; more than perform good deeds,
they arouse wonder, fear, and though their trail is blazed by
tokens of undeniable greatness and rapid visions of an almost
inconceivable audacity, yet they also leave a trail of ruins and
victims in their wake.
"At times, God summons men who are like rods and scourges
with which they punish nations and kings, just as the great Corsi-
can said in reference to himself. Yet there are other men, too, who
come to heal the wounds, to rekindle charity, to rebuild on ruins.
These men are no less great; in fact, they are greater because they
are great in performing good deeds; they are great in their love for
mankind; they are great in the good they perform on behalf of their
fellowmen, in their response to their needs. These men arouse sin-
cere admiration, an admiration full of gratitude, of a welcoming
acceptance and blessings, just as the Savior of mankind, the God-
Man who went around blessing all and being blessed by all. These
are the men whose names are and will always be in benediction.
"The Venerable Don Bosco belongs exactly to this magnifi-
cent category of men chosen among all human beings, to these
colossal people called on to create a beneficent grandeur. If the
scrupulous analysis of his virtues, which has been carried out in
the preceding long and repetitious debates, is followed by a syn-
thesis which gathers together all the scattered lines, then you can
easily reconstruct his splendid, magnificent likeness.

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
"Beloved children, he is a figure on whom Divine Providence
has bestowed its costliest gifts: a magnificent figure of a man that
We always appreciated and whom We now appreciate even more
as We look at him more intently. This doubles and magnifies the
joy of this hour, as We remember him.
"We have seen this figure, closely, and not for a brief moment,
nor was Ours a passing conversation. He was a magnificent figure,
and his immeasurable and unfathomable humility could not dis-
guise it. He was a magnificent figure, and although he mingled
with other men and moved about the house as though he were its
humblest boarder, the last of the invited guests (he, who had orga-
nized everything), everyone recognized at first glance, as soon as
they approached him, his outstanding, enthralling personality. He
was a complete figure; he was one of those souls who, no matter
what path they might have chosen, they would have left inevitably
a lasting mark for themselves, so magnificently equipped was he
for life.
"He was endowed with strength, mental vigor, a warm heart,
with a strong hand, with outstanding power to think, to love, to
work; with thoughts which were full of light, grandiose, deep, and
certainly not ordinary thoughts, but rather superior by far to any
ordinary thought; he had the mental agility and intuitiveness proper
of those geniuses (and this is generally not well-known or noticed)
who could be categorized as real geniuses; he was a genius who
easily could have had success as a scholar, as a thinker, or as a
writer.
"I do not know whether he ever confided to others something
he told me; perhaps he was encouraged to confide in me because
we both had a similar familiarity with books, but he told me that
he had, at first, experienced a desire to follow the path of books,
the path of great discernment. Some marks of this path have sur-
vived, just like scattered limbs, like scattered elements, which, so
to speak, show that from an preconceived plan he would have soared
to the composition of a grand scientific body, a grand scientific
production. You can detect these marks in the volumes he wrote,
in his pamphlets, in his great willingness to spread popular litera-
ture. It is here that you can detect the outstanding and elevated
brilliance of his thinking, which laid out for him the steps of that

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The Decree on the Heroicity of Don Bosco s Virtues
69
great work with which he would first of all fill up his life and then
the entire world. It is there that you can find that first invitation,
that first tendency, that first display of his powerful talent: the tasks
of spreading printed material through print shops and bookstores
were the works he loved the most. This We have seen also with
Our own eyes. This We have heard from his lips. This was what
he was most proud of. He himself said to Us: 'Don Bosco (he always
spoke of himself in the third person) always intends to be in the
vanguard of progress in these things.' So we talked about publi-
cations, and of print shops.
"The golden key to the wonderful, infinitely precious mys-
tery of his great, fertile, active life, to his invincible capacity for
work, to his indomitable endurance under a daily strain which
never slackened, hour after hour, from morning until night, when-
ever such a strain was necessary (and it often was), lay in his
heart, in the intensity and generosity of his feelings.
"The magnificent words: Dedit ei Dominus latitudinem cor-
dis quasi arenam quae est in litore maris [God gave to Solomon
largeness of heart as the sand that is on the seashore (3 Kings
4:29)] could very well apply to him; in fact, they seem as though
they had been written for him, as well as for other great heroes of
charity and of charitable deeds. Now, forty years after his death
look at his works! They are scattered all over the world, on all
shores, even sicut arena quae est in litore maris [as the sand on
the seashore].
"We might conjure up a wonderful vision by only thinking of
the seventy Provinces, the more than one thousand Houses, which
means thousands and thousands more of churches, chapels, ora-
tories, schools, and boarding schools attended by thousands, hun-
dred of thousands, many hundred thousands souls who are thus
led to God, thousands of young souls who find safe shelter in
homes where they partake of the generous banquet of learning
and of a basic Christian education.
"Here are the sons of the Pious Society; here are the Daugh-
ters of Mary Help of Christians-here are the professed religious,
the novices, and the aspirants-here are the sixteen thousand-
and perhaps even more than that at the moment in which we are
speaking-workers of this huge and magnificent undertaking.

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
"Over a thousand of these pious workers, men and women,
are active on the firing line, in direct contact with the enemy, in
faraway Missions where they are conquering new provinces for
God. This was the greatest honor that Rome reserved for its war-
riors of old! The Salesians have given to the Episcopate almost
twenty Bishops who are established in regular Dioceses, as well
as in others, located in faraway Missions.
"It is even more comforting to reflect on the fact that all this
magnificent and miraculous expansion can be traced directly back
to him who continues to govern everything, not as a Father who
is far away, but as the ever-present Founder who remains active
through the eternal vitality of his teachings, in his system of edu-
cation, and above all, in the example he gave!
"His examples! Beloved children, these are the most useful
items, if not the only useful items, of today's great feast.
"For it is true that not to everyone is it granted to enjoy so
marvelous, so abundant, a flow of divine gifts like a tremendous
amount of resources of thought, of love, of labor; not to everyone
is there given the same amount of grace; not to everyone is con-
ferred the grace to follow clearly lit pathways, and yet how open
are his examples to be imitated by everyone, as it has been oppor-
tunely pointed out-in that life so active, so recollected, so opera-
tive and so much involved in prayer!
"This, as a matter of fact, was one of his more beautiful
features: he was always present for everything; he was involved
in a multitude of works, always pressured by problems, always
engaged in checking on requests and in consultations, and yet his
spirit was always elsewhere: always on high, where the weather
was always clear, where calmness reigned supreme, and he was
always in control. This is the way by which in Don Bosco's work
was indeed effective as prayer. This is the way Don Bosco carried
out the great principle of Christian life: qui laborat, orat [he who
works, prays].
"This was, and should always remain, the great glory of his
sons and daughters! What great merit there was in that life, for-
getful of itself, only to dedicate itself to the little ones, to the most
humble of the human species, and to the least attractive aspects,
if we may so describe them, of human miseries!

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"Beloved children, even looking at that wonderful set of activi-
ties, yes, even then, our weakness should not be led to find some
act of self- justification. It is true that not everyone is able to imi-
tate such a perfection, such an effectiveness in what is being done,
because, let's face it, even speaking from a sincere and Christian
perspective, it is not true that to achieve, it is enough to want to
achieve-but rather it is true that we do not have enough willing-
ness to achieve. At any rate, by looking at Don Bosco and his under-
takings, we can all think about and reach this conclusion: while
it is true that we cannot achieve what we would want to achieve,
yet we can all decide to attain what we really can attain.
"Beloved children, how much would all souls, all individuals,
all families and society benefit, if all were really able to achieve
what can be achieved, and be really willing to do what can be done;
if every person were honestly to do whatever little good he can do
for himself and for others, within the modest limits of one's possi-
bilities!
"May the example of this great Servant of God inspire every-
one to follow that way, even though we may find ourselves at a
great distance from his way, which he blazed for us with his good
works and with so much light, with so many outstanding examples
of Christian edification.
"It is with this vision so far and so close that We take a great
and affectionate part in this festivity and in the joy shown by all
Salesians and the Daughters ofMary Help ofChristians. Our thoughts
go out everywhere, especially to the churches and territories for
which today has a special meaning and which gives them the right
to rejoice and be glad. We think of the happiness of Turin; of the
happiness ofAsti. We think-and how could We not think-of the
joy that reigns everywhere, in all parts of the world, since, literally,
there is no place where all the sons and daughters, the Houses of
Don Bosco, ever lively, always vitally flourishing, do not continue
to expand along the pathways traced out by Don Bosco's hand,
and always do try to imitate him stalwartly and effectively."
The Apostolic Blessing brought the ceremony to a close. As the Pope
descended from the throne and made a rapid exit with his retinue, the whole
assembly broke into a jubilant applause, enthusiastically and with deep emo-
tion. This deep emotion and enthusiasm spread rapidly to every Salesian

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
House, where a solemn Te Deum of thanksgiving was intoned fondly and
solemnly, together with the ardent participation of friends of the Society.
In the March issue of the Turin Diocesan Review, the Archbishop,
Cardinal Gamba, who had been a pupil of the Oratory, warmly expressed
his own joy and the joy of the Archdiocese, since the glory of Don Bosco
was also the glory of Turin.
"It is easier for us than it is for others, to appreciate his steadfast moral
rectitude, his immaculately scrupulous conscience which never faltered,
nor was overcome," he wrote. "Don Bosco, towering over great men and
political figures that seemed immortal, walked like a conqueror through the
events of the stormy days he lived in."
That day marked the end of thirty-seven years of processes, both ordi-
nary and apostolic, during which the assertions of Don Bosco's saintliness
had been examined, as the decree stated, with that praiseworthy severity
which ensured greater trustworthiness and authoritativeness.

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Q!}fapter 5
The Miracles for Don Bosco's Beatification
With the decree on the heroicity of Don Bosco's virtues, the work of
man towards the attainment of Don Bosco's beatification had ended and
the work of God had just begun. A sanction from above was needed to seal
with irrefutable proofs the judgment issued by the Church. The proofs were
the miracles wrought by the Lord through the intercession of His Servant.
Naturally, these miracles had to have been obtained after his death, and
solely through his intercession.
The number of miracles required are not the same for every Cause.
Before a Servant of God may be declared Blessed, two miracles are neces-
sary, if the witnesses cross-examined during the processes on his virtues
had known him personally, or had received reliable information from people
who did; three miracles are necessary, if the witnesses questioned during
the Ordinary Process had known the Servant of God personally, and if the
witnesses questioned during the Apostolic Process gathered their informa-
tion from reliable sources; four miracles are required if the depositions
made during the Ordinary and Apostolic Processes were based only on tradi-
tion and documentation. Because of the brief period of time which had
elapsed since Don Bosco' s death, only two miracles were necessary. Among
the many assumed miracles two were selected, because they seemed to present
fewer difficulties to the speedy carrying out of the processes.
Before we enter into details on these two miracles, we shall first
describe briefly the routine procedure by which miracles are canonically
recognized by the Church. The proceedings call for three phases. First of
all, there is an Apostolic Process in the Diocese where the miracle occurred;
almost invariably, the miracle is a recovery from a serious illness. When
the General Promoter of the Faith has received the relevant data from the
Postulator, he submits them to a medical expert for examination. This
specialist is to provide a professional explanation of the disease, its symp-
toms, its development, its medical diagnosis and prognosis. He then draws
up a questionnaire to be submitted to the witnesses and to the attending
doctors, in order that everything be stated with the utmost clarity and
precision possible at the process.

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
Apostolic Authority constitutes the Diocesan Tribunal in the same way
that we described for the Apostolic Process on the heroic virtues; however,
two particular features distinguish it. One of these special features is that
a medical expert is now a member of the Tribunal, and he is in charge of
conducting the pertinent cross-examination of the witnesses; he also sug-
gests the most suitable way to obtain the most trustworthy answers regard-
ing the symptoms ofthe disease. Additionally, after the witnesses have been
cross-examined, two other medical experts, already sworn in to perform
their duties faithfully, proceed with a thorough medical examination of the
person said to have been cured miraculously from sickness, to verify his
or her general health, and to ascertain whether the recovery is perfect, or
if there are any signs of a possible relapse.
When the process is completed, a certified copy of the proceedings is
sent to Rome, with all the legal formalities which are to guarantee that there
is no suspicion of tampering with the results. The second phase of the
proceedings then begins in Rome.
The Chancellery of the Congregation of Rites opens the dossier and
takes out a certified copy, which is then used to study its validity, i.e., to
ascertain whether the witnesses were lawfully and properly cross-examined,
and then whether the documents were submitted in accordance with the
law and declared authentic. Then, after a Decree ofValidity has been issued,
the Advocate for the Cause sets up his position on each of the miracles;
he has all the depositions of the witnesses and all documents at hand in
print. A copy of all this printed material, which is called a Summarium, is
given to two appointed medical experts who take an oath that they will
pronounce their judgment according to their knowledge of medicine, and
the dictates oftheir conscience. For each miracle a Cardinal Ponens is appointed
in agreement with the General Promoter of the Faith, who, whenever pos-
sible, appoints specialists in the particular disease for which a miraculous
cure is alleged. Each of the two medical experts then examines the dossier
independently, and draws up his own report, without consulting with his
colleague, for they do not even know the identity of the other. If both their
legal-medical reports reject the possibility of a miracle, the matter ends
there. If, however, one of the two proclaims a miracle, while the other chal-
lenges the assertion, the matter may be discussed during the Ante-Preparatory
Congregation. [But to proceed to the Preparatory Congregation, two other
experts must be nominated.] Ifboth medical experts agree that the cure was
miraculous, a third expert is called upon, and the Preparatory Congrega-
tion may proceed, but only when the third expert holds the same opinion

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as the other two experts. All three specialists are bound by a threefold obli-
gation: to base theirjudgment on proofs scientifically certain, to attest whether
or not the cure was genuine and perfect, and to prove whether or not it
could be explained in the light of natural laws.
The second phase is now completed, and, as our readers will have
understood by now, we come to the third phase, in which again the three
Congregations known as Anti-Preparatory, Preparatory, and General enter
into action. We shall deal with them later.
In the Cause of Don Bosco, the Postulator who, at first, was Father
Dante Munerati, and later on, Father Francis Tomasetti, did not wait for
the end of the Apostolic Process on Don Bosco' s virtues, but filed a petition
that the Remissory Letters be sent to the Ordinaries who were rightly in
charge, so as to begin the two Apostolic Processes on the miracles. One
of these processes took place in Turin, from 1924 to 1926; the other in
Piacenza in 1925 and in 1926.
A Daughter of Mary Help of Christians, Sister Provina Negro, became
ill at the convent of Giaveno, her place of residence. She was thirty years
old. The first symptoms of her sickness were: loss of appetite, extreme
tiredness, pains at the pit of her stomach, with burning sensations in her
throat and esophagus whenever she tried to swallow. Later she began to
retch, and there were traces of a blackish blood in the food she vomited.
Unexpectedly, she felt an intense and continuous pain in her heart. Now
and then, she felt as though a sharp blade pierced her heart. Later on, an
inability to retain any nourishment was added and her epigastrium became
swollen. Digital compression provoked agonizing stabbing pains from the
epigastric region to the back. Whenever she slept, an acute pain, as if a
stiletto point had pierced her abdomen, would jolt her awake at brief
intervals. Dr. Crolle of Giaveno and Dr. Forni of Turin both diagnosed the
symptoms of a ventricular or circular ulcer in her stomach. Eventually, the
Sister remained in Turin permanently, as the illness demanded.
Her condition grew worse day by day. Two Sisters went to visit her
on Sunday, July 29, 1906, and told her about the miraculous graces that
people attributed to the intercession of Don Bosco and urged her to put her
faith in him. When she was alone, she remembered how trustingly she had
had recourse to Don Bosco during her novitiate, and so, proceeding from
one thought to another, she felt moved to invoke his assistance now. On
her night table there was a picture of the Servant of God, cut from a copy
of the Salesian Bulletin. With difficulty, the suffering Sister stretched out
her hand and took the picture. Then she held it for some moments in front

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
of her eyes and repeated: "Don Bosco, you see the state I am in! Our
Mother General told me that she wants to find me cured when she returns
from Nice. But I have grown worse. By myself I am unable to obey her
instructions. If you wish me to be obedient, you must cure me."
She then promised Don Bosco that if she recovered, she would be more
zealous in her observance of the Rules.
After she had prayed, she rolled the picture into a small pellet, with
the intention of swallowing it. The doctor had forbidden her to swallow
anything, but with faith she put it on her tongue and swallowed it. The clock
sounded seven-thirty P.M., and at that very moment all her pain disap-
peared, and she no longer felt any weight on her stomach or abdomen; she
found that she could even move her limbs quite easily. She then thought
that she would try to get up, and found that she was able to do so, repeatedly
and without difficulty. She did not leave her room, however.
Next morning, she rose at the same time as the other Sisters, but
remained in her room until someone came to give her permission to go to
the chapel. Since none of her Sisters showed up, she herself went in search
of the infirmarian, who immediately ordered her back to bed, for she was
unable to believe her eyes. The young nun obeyed, and waited patiently
for the visit by the doctor, who not only permitted her to get out of bed,
but also even told her to eat. A few days later Sister Provina was able to
rejoin the other nuns and follow the regular observance of community life.
The Tribunal constituted in Turin by Cardinal Gamba was obliged by
the seriousness of the process to apply twice for an extension beyond the
period stipulated by the Sacred Congregation of Rites.
Besides the Sister who had thus been miraculously cured, fourteen
other witnesses were questioned, i.e., the two physicians who had attended
her, two Salesian priests, and ten Sisters of Mary Help of Christians.
Doctors Sympa and Peynetti were present at the process as official medical
experts. In reality, the Code of Canon Law prescribes only one medical
expert for such proceedings, but the Turin Tribunal had requested the
presence of Dr. Sympa, from Rome, the official medical expert for the
Congregation of Rites, when it became evident that reliable technical
guidance was needed in the development of its proceedings.
The final medical examination was performed by Dr. Sura, a surgeon
and radiologist, and by the surgeon, Dr. Rocca, neither of whom found any
sign of gastric lesion nor the faintest symptom of any pathological pre-
dispositions.

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The other miracle took place at Castel San Giovanni, in the area of
Piacenza. By order of Dr. Minoia, a twenty-three year old girl, Teresa
Callegari, was hospitalized for influenza! pneumonia, in November 1918.
She recovered from pneumonia, but during her convalescence, she started
to suffer from severe pains in her left knee, which began to swell, with
subsequent discharge of articulation fluid and ankylosis. She had a per-
sistent fever of 38 degrees Centigrade. The inflammation spread to the right
knee and then to the joints of the feet and the arms, and her disease was
diagnosed as contagious polyarthritis.
The poor girl was completely immobilized, and for six months she
endured atrocious pains. The disease of her joints was further aggravated
by other serious complications: gastric endoenteritis, bladder disturbances
with inability to discharge urine, constipation, and subsequent violent
hemorrhaging which weakened her even more. Persistent pains in the
sacro- lumbar region spread to the thighs, so that she was able only to lie
flat on her back. A swelling, almost as large as a walnut, appeared on the
lower part of her spine, at the third lumbar vertebra.
By the end of 1919, her general condition improved slightly, though
the polyarthritic condition was now chronic, with total ankylosis of the left
knee and spinal cord.
The acute pains that had tormented her returned with greater intensity
in January of the following year, though Dr. Minotti' s treatment did bring
her some relief during the summer. By October, however, her condition
went from bad to worse; she had greater difficulty in eating, she was
vomiting, she had stomach spasms. This was further complicated in Janu-
ary, 1921, by a severe bronchial inflammation with secretions, chronic
enterocolitis that resisted any treatment, and a marasmic condition by
which she could not partake of any nourishment.
The physicians who were treating her declared her condition to be
practically hopeless.
This was the condition of her health when a friend of hers suggested
that she make a novena to Don Bosco; the Sister who nursed her also
begged her to think about it. Full of renewed hope, Teresa mentioned it to
the chaplain, Father Zanelli, who advised her to begin the novena at once.
She obeyed, but there was no improvement. The poor girl was convinced
that she would never be cured, so she implored Don Bosco to help her, at
least, to die a holy death.
In July, Father Zanelli urged her to begin a second novena with com-
plete confidence. On July 16th, which was the eighth day of the novena,

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Teresa felt so ill that the nursing staff believed her end was at hand. At four
o'clock in the morning of the 17th, after a sleepless night, she happened
to glance in the direction of her night table and saw a priest coming toward
her. He was of medium height, and his arms were crossed. His hair was
black and curly; his eyes, too, were black. He put a hand on her forehead,
and resting the other hand on the night table, asked her how she felt. As
her only reply was a cry of anguish, he said imperatively: "Get up!" When
she apologized, saying that it was impossible, he repeated in Piedmontese
dialect: "Bugia le gambe!" [Move your legs!]. Teresa could not understand
that dialect, but when she did catch the word 'legs' she guessed that he had
meant to say "Move your legs." She tried at once to obey him and found
to her amazement that she could move both legs quite easily and without
feeling any pain. She was even able to bend her knees. She cried out to
the Sister, saying that she was cured. The Sister thought she was deranged,
and came running to her. "Slow down," Teresa warned her, "lest you bump
into Don Bosco!"
Don Bosco smiled as she said this. She had never seen a picture of Don
Bosco, but because she had been praying to him for so long a time, she
had no doubt whatsoever that he was the priest standing before her. Just
then Don Bosco raised both his hands, holding the palms turned outwards
toward her, and, moving backward, with a smile, he disappeared. He had
disappeared almost as into a fog.
All of this happened to Teresa when she was fully awake; she was not
dreaming. During the apparition her eyesight became somewhat weak and
blurred, but it gradually cleared up to the point that she was able to
distinguish everything quite clearly.
She flung aside her bedclothes, and sprang out of bed. She crossed the
floor in four swift strides and going to see a friend in the nearby room, she
gave her the joyful news. Then she moved toward nuns who were coming
to see her. They were amazed. The other patients could not believe their
eyes, and crowded around her, to touch her and convince themselves that
what they saw was real. There was absolutely nothing wrong with her. The
following day, this was confirmed by a thorough medical examination by
Dr. Miotti.
This physician attended the Apostolic Process in Piacenza, as the medi-
cal expert for the Ecclesiastical Tribunal which had been constituted by
Bishop Menzani, in accordance with the faculty and instructions received
from Rome. Sixteen other witnesses besides Teresa appeared at the process.
Here again, to complete the judiciary examination, it became necessary to

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prolong the juridical proceedings. Some of the witnesses were unable to
appear in Piacenza. The deposition of one of them was received in Rome
by the General Promoter of the Faith, while the Archbishops of Turin and
Milan were authorized to question the others, instituting restricted processes
in order to do so. The local doctors Ghisolfi and Fermi were appointed as
medical experts for the last detailed examination, and both submitted corres-
ponding reports which excluded any intervention by science or by nature,
as well as all indications of a possible relapse in the future.
The dossiers of these two processes were sent to Rome, and were
opened with due judicial formality, partly on June 18, 1926, and partly on
July 2nd, for discussion as to their validity. On February 28, 1927, during
the ordinary session of the Congregation of Rites, the General Promoter
of the Faith presented a number of difficulties, to which the Advocate
replied at the session held on March 3rd. The Cardinals of the Sacred
Congregation cast their vote in favor of the validity of both processes on
March 22nd of the same year, and the following day Pius XI ratified their
judgment.
Then the examination of the two miracles began. The Attorney sub-
mitted a report on the case during the session of April 29th, adding among
other things, the reports of the medical experts appointed by the Sacred
Congregation: Doctors Feliciani and Gentile in the case of Sister Provina
Negro, and Doctors Sympa and Chiays in the case of Teresa Calligari.
Bishop Salotti presented the first objections on December 18th, and Bishop
Della Chioppa answered them at the same session.
These preliminary sessions were followed by the three Congregations.
The Anti-Preparatory one took place on January 24, 1928, in the palace
of the Cardinal Ponens. The Advocate, as usual, one month earlier had
handed to the Cardinals and Consultors the Position containing the printed
Information, Summary, the official reports of the medical experts, and the
objections presented by the General Promoter ofthe Faith, and the answers
given thereto. The vote was favorable, and so it was possible to continue
the proceedings.
On April 7th, and on July 18, 1928, two ordinary discussions, in two
sessions, took place prior to the Preparatory Congregation; new difficulties
were submitted and new answers given. The Congregation, however, asked
for other medical opinions by two specialists, one for each miracle. Dr.
Persichetti released his opinion on the Turin miracle, Dr. Stampa on the
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An extraordinary thing happened in Rome during the course of these
investigations: there was another healing obtained through the intercession
of Don Bosco.
An Augustinian nun, Sister Mary Joseph Massimi, of the convent of
Santa Lucia in Seki, was about to die with a duodenal ulcer. Her confessor
gave her a relic of Don Bosco and advised her to make a novena to him.
The nun's condition, instead of improving, grew only worse during the
novena, and clearly the last natural resources were fading away. Yet her
faith was unshaken, to the point that as soon as she finished the first novena,
she began a second one. Her ailment became worse than ever! Death
seemed imminent. On the fifth day of the second novena, which was May
15th, Don Bosco appeared to her in a dream. He said: "I am here to tell
you about the grace of your recovery. Be patient. Suffer a little while longer.
The grace will come on Sunday." There were still four days until Sunday.
On the 18th, (Friday) she had another dream. This time Don Bosco
brought her the black habit that the nuns of her order usually wore on holy
days. He again repeated his promise. On Saturday afternoon everything
seemed to indicate that it had been nothing more than a pious illusion. But
the following day, when her confessor came to administer Extreme Unction
to her, what an unexpected change!
Her whole body shook from head to foot, and in that instant she felt
as though she had been called back from death to new life. Ten days later,
she felt so good that she was able to write a detailed account of all that
had happened. This incident caused a considerable stir, and even the Congre-
gation of Rites was impressed by it. Apparently, the miracle even caught
the attention of the Holy Father.1
The Preparatory Congregation began under favorable auspices, although
we should not think that the Cardinals of the Congregation of Rites, who
gathered on December 11, 1928, at the Vatican, had been in any way influ-
enced to cast a favorable vote by the memory of the above-mentioned event.
After this extensive investigation, it seemed that the General Congre-
gation, too, was going to proceed smoothly. Nevertheless, Bishop Salotti
presented some final difficulties during two regular sessions, held on Janu-
ary 6 and 30, 1929, respectively. Bishop Della Cioppa easily disposed of
them, so that, on March 5th, the Cardinals and Consultants cast a favorable
consultative vote in the presence of the Holy Father. The Holy Father, who
1 Father Tomasetti's letters to Father Gusmano, Secretary of the Superior Chapter, Rome, June 5 and 27,
1928.

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has the right to deliberate, took some time to reflect on the matter and to
implore light from Heaven. Finally, after the celebration of the Divine
Sacrifice of the Mass on March 19th, the Pope summoned Cardinal Lau-
renti, the Prefect of the Congregation of Rites, Cardinal Verde, who had
become Ponens of the cause at the death of Cardinal Vico, Bishop Salotti,
the Promoter General of the Faith, and Bishop Mariani, the Secretary of
the Sacred Congregation, and with them, he entered another stately hall,
sat on the throne, and issued the decree that there was evidence of two
miracles, and ordered the publication of the relative Decree. This Decree
was read aloud that same morning in the Consistory Hall of the Apostolic
Palace. The solemn ceremony was carried out in the presence of the Pope
and his court.
Many representatives of the Salesian Houses and of the Houses of the
Sisters of Mary Help of Christians, a considerable number of past pupils
and distinguished personages, both ladies and gentlemen, were admitted,
with special entrance tickets. The Secretary, a Monsignor, approached the
steps of the throne, and with the permission of the Holy Father, read out
the following Decree:
"With what great liberality has almighty God blessed his servant John
Bosco, and also the Pious Society which he founded for the welfare and
assistance of his people, is clearly made manifest by the extraordinary gifts
with which he was richly endowed, by the outstanding undertakings which
he initiated, by their development, by the new houses of his Pious Society,
opened and consolidated in so many regions, even in the most distant
regions of the world, in spite of the almost total lack of necessary means.
The basis for all this growth is the fact that the Servant of God, born to
a poor family and blessed with so many extraordinary talents as a little
child, initiated and brought to completion so many and so various works,
especially related to education of youth, that could not have been actually
continued, had it not been for a great amassing of means and authoritative
prestige. He worked indefatigably to overcome every obstacle, to win over
any opposition, to captivate with his gentleness the minds and hearts of his
adversaries, and proved himself to be a man of noble sentiment, moved and
supported only by his burning desire to save souls. That is the way by which
he endeavored to form his newly founded Pious Society, and he worked
successfully to develop it and expand it in so many parts of Europe, and
he transplanted it, even in the remote parts of the American Continent.
Today, his children have gone even further into countries of the Far East,
where they evangelize with commendable apostolic perseverance.

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
"Despite his own dire financial difficulties, this Venerable Servant of
God loved to practice generous charity, and never turned away unassisted,
anyone who went to him in need.
"Quite often, when requested, he would reveal even the secrets of
people's consciences. He predicted future events. He was happy to restore
peace to troubled souls. He cured people from their physical infirmities,
and was delighted by constantly doing good to all. Moved by this most holy
desire, he founded an institute of sacred virgins, whom he called Daughters
of Mary Help of Christians, an institute that has also today spread far and
wide, and allows the Church to reap noble and salutary fruits.
"He passed on, beloved by both God and men. He always kept and
showed a burning desire to do good. He left behind a memory of himself,
which is cherished by all kinds of people. Directly after his death, the fame
of his miracles spread far and wide, especially the fame of two of these
miraculous heatings chosen by the diligent participants of this Cause. An
Apostolic Process was instituted on them and they were presented to the
Sacred Congregation of Rites, so that a verdict on their authenticity might
be passed.
"The first of these miraculous healings concerns Sister Provina Negro,
who had a peptic ulcer of the stomach which caused her the most atrocious
pains. When the patient was informed of the malignant nature of her
disease, and came to know that it was hardly possible that she would be
cured, even though she were to undergo lengthy treatments, she resolved
to try to invoke the divine assistance. After imploring the intercession of
Venerable John Bosco, and having swallowed a relic of his with great faith,
she found herself completely free of her infirmity and perfectly cured.
Everyone, especially the doctors, declared her recovery a miracle.
"The second miraculous healing concerns Teresa Callagari, who suf-
fered from several internal diseases, which, resisted all kinds of remedies
and had led her to a marasmic condition. The doctors declared that she
would soon die. The diagnosis made by those outstanding doctors was not
wrong, because she was afflicted by a very serious organic disease from
which she was suffering, a disease that was the cause of various anatomic
internal injuries. This was also confirmed with sworn depositions by three
specialists called on for this purpose by the Sacred Congregation of Rites.
In such a predicament, Teresa Callegari invoked the intercession of Vener-
able John Bosco, and was instantly cured, not only of one but also of all
her serious diseases. She instantly recognized and proclaimed the miracle
of her recovery.

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"The Apostolic Process on these two miracles was instituted. The
miracles were carefully debated and they were declared authentic. The
Anti-Preparatory Congregation was held with the Most Reverend Cardinal
Anthony Vico, of happy memory, the Relator of the Cause, on January 24,
1928. On December 11th of the same year, the Preparatory Congregation
convened in the Vatican Palace. On the 5th of the current month of March,
the General Congregation was held in the presence ofthe Holy Father, Pope
Pius XI. His Eminence Cardinal Alexander Verde, Relator of the Cause,
presented the question: whether there were miracles, and what kind of
miracles, for the case and purpose at hand. All those who were present, both
the Most Reverend Cardinals and the Father-Consultors, in their respective
order gave their answer. Once this was done, the Holy Father reserved for
himself the right to express his judgment, showing however, clear signs of
his inner joy. Meanwhile, he exhorted everyone to pray for a greater
clarification from Heaven in a matter of such great importance.
"Once he had determined to render public his decretal sentence, the
Pope designated the feast of St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church and
particularly venerated by the Venerable John Bosco, as the day to do this,
and after he had devotedly celebrated the holy Sacrifice of the Mass, he
called upon the Most Reverend Cardinals, Camillus Laurenti, Prefect of
the Sacred Congregation of Rites, and Alexander Verde, Ponens Promoter
of the Cause, together with Bishop Charles Salotti, Promoter General of
the Faith and the undersigned secretary, and in their presence he moved
to another stately hall; he sat on the throne and solemnly declared that it
was evident that Sister Provina Negro was instantly and perfectly cured of
her peptic ulcer of the stomach, and that likewise, Teresa Callegari was
instantaneously and perfectly cured of her acute post infective polyarthritis
and other lesions which had led her to a marasmic condition.
"Then the Pope ordered that the present decree be made public, and
that it be included in the Records of the Sacred Congregation of Rites.
March 19, 1929."
After the Decree was read, Father Tomasetti, the Salesian Procurator
and Postulator of the Cause, accompanied by the Advocate and Promoter
General of the Cause, gave thanks to the Holy Father, with a speech which
touched upon a recent and important event.
In the air there were still echoes of the jubilation which had flooded
Italy on an historic day that had put a happy ending to the protracted and
agonizing controversy that had existed between the Italian Government and
the Holy See. Sharply aware of this opportunity, Father Tomasetti recalled

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
this memorable date. The Pope in the allocution delivered immediately
afterward drew inspiration from Father Tomasetti' swords, to illustrate Don
Bosco's own thoughts on the subject of Concilianon.
Father Tomasetti spoke as follows:
Most Holy Father:
Today my soul rejoices as I extend sincere, fervent thanks to
Your Holiness, on behalf of our Most Reverend Rector Major and
the whole Salesian family, for having thought worthy to issue the
Decree which approved the two miracles submitted for the beatifi-
cation of the Venerable John Bosco, Founder of the Pious Society of
St. Francis of Sales, of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help
of Christians, and of the Pious Union of Salesian Cooperators.
This Decree fills with joy the hearts of the sons of the Servant
of God, ''a mighty champion of Christian education'' as Your Holi-
ness was pleased to call him on another solemn occasion. But the
Salesians are not surprised by this. All of them, and, particularly
those who were fortunate enough to live for a time close to him,
are well aware that his life was so interwoven with miraculous things
that one might have rightly said that around Don Bosco the super-
natural had become natural. So much so that, as we read in one
of our Father's letters, written during his second trip to Rome in
1867, "he had directed to God special prayers that he might not
allow any extraordinary thing to happen, which might cause people
to talk about him ... 'Poor Don Bosco'."
As he had done throughout his lifetime, he continued to assist
his children and his friends with loving, wonderful inspirations
after his death, and to bless the faithful who trustingly invoked
him, with innumerable miracles and graces.
Our joy becomes even greater when we reflect on the mar-
velous ways of Divine Providence, and realize how Your Holiness
issued this long-awaited Decree which announces our Venerable
Father's forthcoming Beatification, immediately after the splendid
and historic event ofthe solution ofthe Roman Question. The Roman
Question had been a source of anguish, of hope, and of, why not
say it, of torment, for so many pious souls, and the Venerable Don
Bosco had given to it a considerable amount ofcooperative endeavor,
as well as all of his attention and priestly zeal. For it, he acted as
a successful and esteemed mediator in critical and very painful and

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delicate moments, and helped ease the tension between the govern-
ment of his day and the Holy See. For this mediation to prove suc-
cessful, Don Bosco himself strove, and exhorted others to strive,
towards ever-greater heights, "to reach better points of view," to
reach the peaks and summits where the vision becomes-and these
are your most recent words-great and sublime.
To the question raised by your glorious predecessor, Pius IX,
Don Bosco answered: "My politics are the politics of your Holi-
ness; the politics of the Pater Noster (Our Father)."
In the Pater Noster, we implore everyday that the Kingdom of
our Heavenly Father may come on earth, 'Adveniat regnum tuum'
and that it may be expanded and become more glorious, more
powerful. This is what matters most.
I trust that Your Holiness will appreciate the recollection of
this event, not known to all, which expresses the similarity of the
lofty outlook and superior sentiments of our Venerable Father to
the exalted ideals which have always guided and directed so suc-
cessfully Your Holiness, in overcoming the tremendous obstacles
which prevented the successful outcome of this great endeavor.
The hour of God struck, and it was not ignored. A great accom-
plishment was finally achieved for the benefit of the whole world:
it gave Italy back to God, and God back to Italy. It restored a peace
that healed the consciences of so many good souls, the whole world
over.
Oh! How much will our Venerable Father rejoice for the com-
pleted solution of the Roman Question and for the great benefits
which will be drawn from it, since far and above 'every kind of
glory' he had placed that of being a faithful servant of Jesus Christ,
of His Church and of His Vicar." 2
All the spiritual children of Don Bosco and the hundreds of
thousands, the millions, ofboys and grown men of all social classes,
of every conceivable walk of life, who have found at the springs
of our Venerable Father the treasures of a Christian education, as
Your Holiness had expressed in the above-mentioned talk.... Oh,
how much they rejoice, both for the solution of the Roman Ques-
tion and for the happy coincidence of the present decree.
2 Words of the Holy Father in his talk to the boys of the Hospice of the Sacred Heart in Rome on June 25,
1922.

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Once again, also on behalf of all the past pupils of the Sale-
sian family, with the enthusiasm produced by this hour so long
awaited and longed for, I renew our most sincere and heartfelt
thanks to Your Holiness, while we take pride in our commitment
and determination to keep inviolate all the benefits of a Christian
education, to spread its benefits with the example of a generous
and inspired fidelity to Jesus Christ, and his Vicar on earth.
When Father Tomasetti ended his talk, His Holiness hinted that he, too,
wished to speak. The audience became attentive. For a few moments, filled
with of emotion, the Pope seemed to recall and arrange in silence the
thoughts going through his mind; then with a calm and vibrant voice, which
at times was quivering, he spoke as follows:
"Mostbeloved children, it is the voice, the great voice ofmiracles,
and the voice of God quifacit mirabilia magna solus! [Who alone
performs great miracles] it is the voice of God which descends on
the tomb which we can call glorious-and how glorious!-of His
faithful servant, to render more grandiose and more shining the
splendor of His Glory. It is truly admirable-to say what first comes
to Our mind and heart-to see with what tact, and I should say
with what elegance, Divine Goodness knows how to join things
and have them meet and prepare for later events.
"As a matter of fact, the Decree approving the miracles of the
Venerable John Bosco, who was deeply devoted to St. Joseph,
was proclaimed on the feast of this glorious Patriarch. Now, by
joyous coincidence, this feast is at last a feast to be enjoyed by all,
in one and the same way, and in one and the same spirit, with a
perfect union of minds and hearts. We believe that it was St.
Joseph who wished in some way to be in charge of contributing
to the reward to be given to this great, to this very great, Servant
of Mary, his most chaste Spouse, towards whom the Venerable
John Bosco always had shown such deep homage of piety and
devotion under the special title of Mary Help of Christians, a title
now inseparably linked with his own name and with his under-
takings and all their innumerable ramifications, the wide world
over.
"No less touching, delicate, and significant, is the other coinci-
dence, which has been so considerately remembered. In the wake
of an event for which the whole world today rejoices, and shall

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continue to rejoice for some time to come, and joins Us to give
thanks to God for it, there comes the proclamation of the miracles
of Don Bosco, of this faithful and wise Servant of Christ's Church
and of this Holy Roman See. Indeed, as We Ourselves heard him
say with his very own lips, the solution to this deplorable dispute
was always uppermost in his mind and in his heart, but in a manner
suited to so wise and faithful a Servant, meaning that he did not
desire any kind of solution whatsoever, as so many people had imag-
ined, interfering with and confusing the issues, but a solution such
as would first of all protect the honor of God, the prestige of the
Church, and the welfare of souls.
"We said that We heard this from his own lips, and also in this
We recognize another wonderful disposition of God, another of
God's most delicate arrangements. Forty-six years have gone by,
and it seems like yesterday, rather than today, it seems like We are
seeing him now just as We saw him then and heard him then, when
We passed some days in his company, living under the same roof,
sitting at the same dinner table, and having several times the occa-
sion and good fortune to be able to meet at length, not withstanding
the indescribable amount of his pressing work. For this was one
of his most striking features: his absolute calmness, his control of
time, that enabled him to attend to everyone who turned to him
with such tranquility, as though he had nothing else to do. This was
one of his striking traits, and not the least one, which We had the
occasion to admire in him. To this we should add the gift of proph-
ecy. However (His Holiness said this with a smile), he was unable
to predict what has happened today! Who could have predicted at
that time that, after so many years, in the wake of such a magnifi-
cent event, which We have just hailed with such jubilation, We
would have had another solemn encounter? He, Don Bosco, resplen-
dent in the radiance of the miracles, and Ourselves, at the moment
of proclaiming solemnly and with the authority provided by the
Decrees of the Church, these same miracles, the splendor of which
now emits light on his tomb, in preparation for the supreme glory
of the altars?
"These miracles that you have heard proclaimed, these miracles
which are so very evident to all who know him-and who does
not know him the world over?-are nothing more than a sample
of the miracles, which in every way, are brightly evident in Don

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
Bosco' s figure. Countless indeed are the miracles, which both during
his lifetime and after his death, along with the marvelous continua-
tion of his work, God, our Lord, wanted to work through the inter-
cession ofHis faithful Servant. The miracles which have been chosen
from among many others for a scrupulous investigation and in very
severe judicial proceedings are, as We said, nothing more than a
sample, which had, necessarily, to be confirmed juridically. They
are evident and very beautiful, yet there are many others, in a great
number and no less beautiful and resplendent, while quite a few
among them stand out for their divine elegance, so magnificent is
the evidence provided by circumstances and events!
"But there are many other wonderful traits in the Venerable
John Bosco. Those who have read, or who in the future will read,
some of the many Lives that have been published in reference to
the Servant of God (there are an infinite number of them, pub-
lished in different languages) must have realized how much there
was in him that was miraculous, and how true it was that, as it has
been rightly pointed out, the supernatural had become natural:
'extraordinary had become almost ordinary.' Beloved children,
the fact is that these extraordinary gifts and deeds were like so
many shining stars in a sky already serene and resplendent, which
were added only to confer greater consolation to a life, which, in
itself, was nothing but a miracle, a miracle of activity, a miracle
of undertakings.
"In the Bull of Canonization for St. Thomas Aquinas, a felici-
tous expression says that, had there been no other miracle, every
article of his remarkable Summa Theologica would have consti-
tuted a genuine miracle by itself. We, too, can say that every year
ofDon Bosco' s life, every undertaking ofhis mortal life, and every
moment ofhis posthumous life, the perpetuation of his undertakings
in his sons, the Salesians, and his Daughters, the Sisters of Mary
Help of Christians, We can really say that this constitutes, like so
many miracles, an unbroken sequence of miracles.
"When We consider the rural solitude of the Becchi hamlet
where the poor boy led his father's small flock to pasture, his ini-
tial lowly assignment at the Little Hospital of St. Philomena and
then the other more revealing and significant tasks at Valdocco (for
those who were able to understand), when We consider how this
poor, humble priest who, out of nothing, began enterprises like the

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Shrine of Mary Help of Christians which he started with only fifty
cents in his pocket, and then We look around only to see before
Us a continuous blossoming of works, the three branches of his
family-the Salesians, properly so called, the Daughters of Mary
Help ofChristians, the Salesian Cooperators, this wonderful legion
which he used to call his 'longa manus' [long arm]-We then per-
ceive that what We have once heard from his very lips has actually
been fulfilled. 'Don Bosco has long arms when he needs them,'
he said, and indeed it can be said that his arms, his hands, have
grown long to the point of encompassing the whole world, and
have it seeded with truly wonderful Houses and Institutions.
"WhatWe are about to reflect on now is only the fruit ofevents
which occurred at least twenty years ago. One may then wonder
what has happened during the last twenty years, when everything
has seen an increase which could easily be labeled as awesome,
were it not so glorious and comforting! At any rate, when We think
about these hundreds of churches and chapels, which twenty years
ago already numbered three hundred; when We think about those
hundreds of thousands ofpupils, and surely about more than a mil-
lion past pupils educated in Don Bosco' s various schools where
the highest kind of instruction is provided, and in the technical and
professional schools where training is produced, then We cannot
help but be amazed and awestruck, as though We were facing the
continuous sight ofa miracle, one ofthe most extraordinary miracles
during these past twenty years, that is, from the day from which
Our recollections stem up to our present time, how many more
sons of Don Bosco, how many more Daughters of Mary Help of
Christians, how many more Salesian Cooperators have been added
to the previous ones? Already at that time they numbered hundreds
of thousands. How many are there today? We believe that this is
the loveliest, most poetic statistical data, the most pleasing numeri-
cal poem one could ever imagine.
"And not to overlook the recollection of one of Don Bosco's
most remarkable traits, when We consider that We are dealing with
a man who seemed always to have so many things to do, so many
things to control and attend to in person, without time to dedicate
himself to studies properly so-called, with so many undertakings
in his hands and needing personal care and direction, one can not
help but ask: how did he manage to write so many books, how

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could so many books come from his pen? For he wrote, and printed
at least seventy books and pamphlets for popular consumption, and
some of them were extraordinarily successful. His History ofItaly
has already had between thirty and forty editions. Twenty years ago,
his Sacred History had already reached its seventieth or seventy-
seventh edition; his prayer books, the Companion ofYouth and Chris-
tian Maiden, had already perhaps as many as 600 editions; twenty
years ago, his popular publication, Catholics Readings, had a circu-
lation of ten million copies, while the Salesian Bulletin, now pub-
lished in so many different languages, had a monthly circulation of
300,000 copies, according to a report issued several years ago, and
this has increased considerably at the present time. These are indeed
wonderful things, and We may rightly say that they are miraculous.
"Truly, one can only wonder and ask: How could all this be ac-
complished? We must perforce realize that it was all done because
of the special intervention of God's Grace: manus Deifacit haec
omnia! [The hand of God did all this]. Where did the great Servant
of God find the strength to accomplish so much? There is a secret,
and he, himself, revealed it continuously, perhaps without realizing
it. This secret is hidden in a phrase that he had often used and which
he took as the motto of his entire life: Da mihi animas, coetera
tolle [Lord, give me souls, and take away the rest]. Herein lies the
secret of his great heart, of his strength, of his flaming charity for
children in most need whom he loved the most, whom he first began
to help, and whom he continues to assist even now: Da mihi ani-
mas! Yes, Don Bosco loved souls because he loved Our Lord Jesus
Christ, and therefore he looked at them from the viewpoint of the
thought, of the Heart and Blood of the Redeemer. That was why
no undertaking was ever impossible for him; no treasure looked
too precious not to contribute it to the salvation of souls, even if
it had been only one soul. This is a very opportune thought, rightly
formed and directed by the Divine Mind. As a matter of fact, it is
the love for souls that must regenerate the world, and therefore this
great amator animarum [lover of souls], with the radiance of his
miracles and the effectiveness of his works commands the atten-
tion, the admiration, and the imitation ofthe whole world. Although
not everyone may aspire-how could it be possible?-to such a
prodigious activity on behalf of souls, miracles may still be wrought
in every conceivable way with a great love, by a great endeavor,

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by a great commitment in all circumstances and in any situation.
How many people would be able to accomplish extraordinary things
if only they, too, felt within their hearts this same love for souls
which does not stop when self-denial and sacrifice are requested,
and which performs genuine miracles, like the miracles of patience,
of self-sacrifice, and of abnegation performed by a mother through
the great and tender love she has for her child.
"Though not everyone can aspire to achieve as much, who
would refuse to work, each according to his ability, in his field,
when we see so many souls, especially the souls of the young,
exposed to dangers and ready to fall victims of temptations and
occasions of sin? How many souls are drawn towards ruin by the
lure of vanity, by an unbridled sensuality, or lust for pleasure!
That is why it is imperative that everyone should cooperate in the
apostolate to which We summon unceasingly all those who have
a heart and Christian disposition. Everyone should enlist in the
ranks of the Catholic Action, which We sponsor wholeheartedly,
and which is open to so many developments. There is room for
everybody in its ranks; for the mighty and the lowly, for men and
for women, for young and old alike, and everyone can cooperate
to attain the goal of a universal, hierarchical apostolate, which is
exactly the purpose and soul of Catholic Action.
"And in addition, one more thought, which together with the
one on the precious value of love of souls, the love of Jesus, the
value of His Most Precious Blood shed for souls, is given to us
by Don Bosco in this symbolic glorification of his.
"How beautiful, how comforting, how stimulating, is the thought
of God's sovereign fidelity to His Servants! This is the truth; this
is the most beautiful and most sublime light, which surrounds Don
Bosco today. This humble, faithful Servant who was a mere mortal
(as he spoke, the Pope seemed to be deeply moved), a humble Ser-
vant of God who spared no effort so that he might serve God gener-
ously, he was a poor man in the eyes ofthe world. Yet, lo and behold!
God has opened the heavens, and His voice resounds unto the re-
motest comers of the earth, with the strength and splendor of his
miracles. Today, before our eyes, He lifts the stone which covers
the glorious tomb and calls forth His faithful Servant to a truly
glorious resurrection. He does so precisely during these days when

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
we prepare for our solemn commemoration of His Divine Resur-
rection.
"Yes,.fidelis Deus in Sanctis suis [God is faithful in His saints].
Let us remember this, especially when God asks us to perform some
task, make some sacrifice, some act ofself-abnegation for His greater
glory and the welfare of souls. We must respond with generosity,
because as in the event which we celebrate, we will come to realize
what the Divine King has said: Qui confitebitur me coram homi-
nibus, confitebor et ego eum coram Patre meo [He who acknowl-
edges me before men, him will I acknowledge before my Father].
With his life, with all his undertakings, and with the lives and the
undertakings of his sons who have multiplied all over the earth,
the Venerable John Bosco may truly say: 'I have acknowledged the
Lord, and I do acknowledge the Lord my God, and He acknowl-
edges me, and He proclaims me glorious before His heavenly Father,
and before the world.'
"Now, beloved children, it only remains for Us to extend Our
Apostolic Blessing to you all, in the spirit of what I have just said:
first of all, We impart it to the sons of Don Bosco, the Daughters
of Mary Help of Christians, the Salesian Cooperators, all Salesian
Houses and missions everywhere in the world, to the entire vast,
industrious, and fertile complex of their holy undertakings, and
then to everyone here present, and to all the things and all the
people that everyone of you carries in his thoughts and hearts."
This touching allocution lasted forty minutes, during which
hardly anybody in the audience made a sound. Once the blessing
was imparted, everyone broke out in a prolonged and enthusiastic
applause, as the Pope retired to his chambers, after greeting the
Cardinals and the other persons present.
The noble words ofthe Vicar of Jesus Christ had echoed widely
and drew crowds of people from all sides to the tomb of Valsalice,
a tomb which was about to be converted into an altar. There was
a noticeable flow of visitors, of both high and lowly social status.
Here we shall recall only a few among the more eminent people
who had come to pay their homage within the first three days, after
the publication of the Decree.
The Crown Prince, Humbert ofSavoy, went early in the morning
of March 20th. He first knelt for a time in prayer at the tomb and
then attended Mass with devotion in the chapel above the tomb.

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The Archbishop, Cardinal Gamba, went to the tomb that same
evening. After kneeling for some time in prayer, he exclaimed: "Don
Bosco is unique in attaining, so soon, the glory of the Blessed. He
is widely venerated all over the world!" He then wrote in the Visi-
tors' Book: "May the forthcoming Beatification of the Servant of
God, Don John Bosco, the greatest Apostle of the 19th century,
ensure that the peace of Christ reign throughout Christ's kingdom
all over the world, as a result of the recent Conciliation between
the Church and the Italian government, even as the Holy Father
Pius IX, had hoped it might, at the commencement of his glorious
reign."
The following day, young men from City Hall brought a magni-
ficent wreath of :flowers, with a streamer on which were the words
CITY OF TURIN; this was done by order of the Mayor who, a
little later, sent two representatives with a note that read: "As
Mayor of Turin, and as a Catholic, I render a devout tribute to
Blessed Don Bosco, our great and incomparable fellow citizen,
and apostle of faith, hope, charity, and of Italianism all over the
world."-T. di Revel. He had already sent the following moving
telegram to Cardinal Gasparri: "The city of Turin witnessed Don
Bosco' s sublime apostolate, and warmly endorses the incompa-
rable work done by him and his successors, deeming the elevation
to the altars of this great fellow citizen a signal honor. Would Your
Eminence place at the feet of the Holy Father our jubilant tribute
of gratitude, and devotion."
In the afternoon of March 22nd, His Excellency Belluzzi, the
Secretary of State for National Education, visited the tomb of the
future Blessed Don Bosco. He was welcomed by the pupils, the
Rector Major, Father Philip Rinaldi, and the Prefect General of
Salesian Schools, Father Bartholomew Fascie. For a while he lin-
gered, absorbed in thought, by the tomb, and later wrote sincere
good wishes for "Don Bosco's glorious school" in the Visitors'
Book. He then addressed the pupils from the terrace, exhorting
them all to become useful instruments in performing good deeds.
The April issue of the Diocesan Review carried the Archbishop's
lengthy and warm letter, which announced to the people of Turin
the forthcoming Beatification of Don Bosco. "Don Bosco was so
glorious a figure," His Eminence wrote, "that he does not make
illustrious only a city or a nation, but the whole world. I am sure

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
that no Beatified Servant of God will ever have received such a
great or world-wide tribute as the one which will be rendered to
Blessed Don Bosco." Two months later, events were to fully justi-
fy these words.

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C!tqupter fi
The "Toto" Decree
The Church does not really make Saints in a hurry. Not even the approval
of miracles allows a smooth and easy course towards Beatification. As a
matter offact, after this step another General Congregation, known as Tuto,
is required. In a speech delivered after the proclamation of the Tuto for the
beatification ofthe Venerable Pignatelli, and the Venerable Catherine Laboure,1
Pope Pius XI gave a detailed explanation of the reasons for this final phase
of canonical procedure. This is what he said:
''What does the word Tuto mean? It is a short Latin word meaning 'out
of danger,' 'without danger,' i.e., with certainty. Tuto is equivalent to 'safety
beyond all danger.' To understand what kind of danger we are dealing with,
it is enough to read the answer given by the Decree to the question raised,
that is, whether, after the investigation and the approval of the miracles,
recognized as such, whether, after going through the complex procedure
presupposed before such approvals are issued (local and ordinary processes,
apostolic process, etc.), it would be possible to proceed without any danger
to further phases needed for the beatification and canonization of a person,
without danger that things less true and less good would show up, without
danger for truth and goodness. The reason for all this is that the Church
is indefatigable in its research and investigations. In these Causes, the impor-
tant thing is that everything said about a Servant of God be true, and that
everything true is also good, eminently and heroically good. Some people
may think that the Church is excessive in its concern about exactness if,
after such painstaking research, it still wants certainty, namely, the Tuto
Decree, before making its final pronouncement. But where truth and good-
ness are concerned, nothing less than this is needed; nothing less than this
is needed for an investigation which reaches the throne of God, in order
to marvel at the exquisite fruits ofRedemption, and to draw shining examples
to be proposed to all for imitation. To achieve all this, nothing less than
a relentless quest for absolute certainty is required. The Church wants cer-
tainty, and it does possess it, not only as far as an officially acknowledged
holiness, but also as far as other areas, which, however, are not very dif-
ferent, for it still is dealing with sanctity. The Church has the privilege, the
1 L'Osservatore Romano, March 15, 1933.

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
secret of certainty, for she is the trusted guardian of Truth, and Goodness.
Truth and Goodness! Only these two words correspond fully to the essence
and perfection of human intelligence and human will, and they are, there-
fore, the most interesting and the most important of all words.
"As to Truth, it is quite evident to everyone who is born at the school
of celestial things, [alla scuola delle celesti cose] as the Poet would say,
to all the devout children of the Church, it is quite evident that the Church
is the infallible guardian ofRevealed Truth, for Revealed Truth was entrusted
to the Church in order that she might guard it, teach it, and interpret it.
Docete omnes gentes. ... Ecce ego vobiscum sum usque ad consumma-
tionem saeculi [Teach all nations.... Behold I am with you till the end of
time]. The Holy Spirit who proceeds from me, ille vos docebit omnia [He
will teach you all things] and you shall teach men servare omnia quaecum-
que mandavi vobis [to keep all that I have commanded you]. The Divine
Master, that is, hands over to His Church the Divine Revelation, not simply
a part of it, but the entire body of Divine Revelation, with the promise of
a perpetual assistance that would almost be called Doubly Divine. The Reve-
lation ofthe Divine Redeemer Who speaks, and the Revelation ofthe Divine
Paraclete Who is promised.
"But even beyond the world of Revelation, even within the realm of
natural truths, certitude is so much needed in reference to these truths
which relate to God: the soul, the origin, nature, and destiny of Man, his
relationship with his fellowmen, with the world around him, with his
Maker. Even in this field does the Church offer certitude: Docete omnes
gentes. . . . Vobiscum sum. ... Docebit vos omnia [Teach all nations....
I am with you.... He will teach you everything]. Here the Holy Church,
the Teacher of Revealed Truth, becomes the wise, trustworthy guardian of
natural truths, and even in the realm of natural truths, the Church sheds
light, its Tuto. Thus Revelation holds out its hand to poor human intelli-
gence, which became lost in its groping pilgrimages in search of truth.
What a great and providential boon this is!
"In regard to Goodness, how great is the lack of certitude even in daily
life, in a daily-lived experience! Where can we find what is good? Where
is justice? Where does it begin? And where does it end? How often have
cruel acts of injustice not been perpetrated in the name of Justice? How
often was not Goodness sacrificed in the name of Goodness? The Church
alone has always given an answer to those who sought enlightenment, as
well as to those who did not, and sent out its shepherds, its priests, to do

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it; only the Church had proclaimed to everyone: Up to here, Justice!
Beyond this point, injustice. Up to this point, it's all right. Beyond this
point, it's not all right. The Church alone, at all times and under any
circumstance, teaches us to call things by their rightful names. The last
admonition proclaimed to Bishops at their consecration is this: Your lips
shall not call evil what is good, nor shall they call good what is evil.
"Even this inestimable certitude, concerning truth and goodness, the
certitude of our intellect, and our will, is the fruit, and an infinitely precious
one, of our Redemption." This is what the Pope said.
The purpose of the last General Congregation then, is to determine
whether or not one may proceed with complete certitude and beyond any
possible doubt towards Beatification. This is the path by which we reached
what had to be done with Don Bosco's case.
The Procurator, Father Melandri, presented a petition to the Holy
Father in order that after the joyful result of the long investigations, he
might consider it proper to complete the work done by issuing a Decree
that it was safe to proceed with the solemn Beatification of the Servant of
God. This petition, the text of the Decree approving the heroicity of his
virtues, the authenticity of the two miracles, and the well-founded opinion
reported by Bishop Salotti, the General Promoter of the Faith, all were
assembled in a printed volume and constituted the Positio for the Congre-
gation of the Tuto.
A particular circumstance was properly pointed out by Bishop Salotti
who had put aside his role of censor, and assumed that of an admirer. Don
Bosco's Beatification in 1929 was going to coincide with the golden jubi-
lee of the Pope's priestly ordination. Referring to this happy coincidence,
the Promoter of the Faith said that he was sure he interpreted the feelings
of the Holy Father when he said that the concurrence of these two events
would be very agreeable to His Holiness. Some time later the Pope himself
made it quite clearly known that Bishop Salotti was not far from the truth
in what he thought and said. The Cardinals and Consultants of the Sacred
Congregation of Rites met for the last time in the presence of the Pope on
April 9, 1929, and they cast a favorable vote, namely, that it was quite
[safe] Tuto to proceed with the solemn Beatification of Don Bosco. Again
the Pope delayed his own definitive judgment until a later date, because
he first wished to seek heavenly light. He finally set the date for the cere-
mony, which was scheduled for the 21st of April, 1929. The Tuto Decree
was read aloud in public with the same formality that we already described

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
in connection with the Decree on Don Bosco' s heroicity of virtues and
miracles. The following is a faithful translation of the Decree.
"The Venerable Servant of God, John Bosco, performed many great
and wonderful things to promote the glory of God, and to provide for the
eternal salvation of mankind. As a man sent by God to carry out this dual
mission, he began by talcing care of young people whom he instructed in
the commandments and in the duties of religion; and to whom he gave a
moral education. He showed concern that they be given civil instruction,
malcing every effort to enable as many of them as possible to avail them-
selves of the great treasures of Redemption. His desire to gain for God a
great number of souls was limitless. He spared no effort to reach and influ-
ence with his ardent apostolic zeal all kinds of people. His spirit could have
faltered under the burden of a lack ofhuman resources, by the great amount
of opposition that came even from people holding responsible positions,
under the weight of problems inherent in the nature of things, under the
weight of obstacles of every description. Yet never for one moment did
John abandon his wearisome and saintly undertakings. With the help of
God, he brought to a successful conclusion all that he had undertaken, and
acquired for himself an immortal fame worthy of the highest praise. He
also wrote and published many books, which were eminently helpful in
revitalizing devotion among the masses, and in strengthening Christian prin-
ciples and precepts. These books even today are held in great esteem. Now,
if we compare the lack of human resources that he continuously had to
face, with the greatness ofhis accomplishments and with the immense amount
of benefits provided by them for all kinds of people, we might be inclined
to see in him a kind of miracle, almost a new miracle. I say 'miracle' because
Divine generosity, almost vying with John's unshakable trust and unselfish-
ness, seemed to increase his strength, multiply his talents, and render his
labor wondrously fruitful.
"It is even more astonishing to see that a man of this kind, who was
continuously engaged in bold ventures and frequently exposed to many
dangers, would live in the midst of boys, deal with all kinds of people, and
never for a single moment waver in the practice of Christian virtues, up
to the point of reaching the heights of heroicity, as it has been acknowl-
edged and defined after a scrupulous judicial investigation, by the Decree,
solemnly promulgated on February 20, 1927.
"Many miracles occurred after the death of this Venerable Servant of
God, and as the nature of the Cause required, two among these miracles
were juridically discussed and examined with the usual rigor, and were

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acknowledged as miracles with the Decree of March 19th last. There was
only one more thing to be discussed, namely, whether or not one could
safely proceed with the solemn Beatification of the Venerable John Bosco.
This was done by the final General Congregation, which met in the pres-
ence of His Holiness, Pius XI. Cardinal Alexander Verde, Relator of the
Cause, proposed the following question:
Whether, following the approval ofthe virtues and ofthe two miracles,
it was permissible to proceed with complete certitude to the Beatification
of the Venerable John Bosco.
"All the Most Reverend Cardinals and Fathers Consultors who could
be present, following the prescribed ritual procedure, cast a favorable vote,
His Holiness manifested his joy for that vote but thought it better to
postpone the publication of that Decree to another day, so that he could,
in the meantime, implore God's heavenly light. When the Pope decided to
make known his deliberation, he chose today's date, the third Sunday after
Easter. After celebrating with fervor the holy sacrifice ofthe Mass, the Pope
summoned the Most Reverend Cardinals Camillus Laurenti, Prefect of the
Sacred Congregation of Rites, and Alexander Verde, Ponens of the Cause,
together with Rev. P. Charles Salotti, Promoter General of the Faith, and
myself, the undersigned secretary. He entered the hall. He sat on the
Pontifical throne and in their presence he declared with a solemn Decree
that it was safe to proceed to the Solemn Beatification ofthe Venerable John
Bosco. The Pope then ordered that the present Decree be made known
publicly and be included in the Acts of the Sacred Congregation of the
Rites, and that Apostolic Letters be sent out informa brevis for the solemn
Beatification ceremony that was soon to take place in the Vatican Basilica.
April 21, 1929."
Immediately after the reading of the Decree, the Secretary of the Con-
gregation of Rites, Bishop Mariani, read a second Decree which acknowl-
edged the martyrdom of Venerable Cosma of Carboniano, who laid down
his life for his faith on November 5, 1707.
When there is more than one Decree, the Congregation of Rites appoints
the one who should thank the Holy Father with a special address. In this
instance, Bishop Der-Abrahamian was chosen, and he spoke on behalf of
the Armenian hierarchy, of the Armenian clergy, and ofthe Armenian people.
Naturally, he also expressed his thanks on behalf of the Salesians for the
Beatification of their Founder. He said: "There are still echoes of your sov-
ereign voice with which, at a recent ceremony approving the miracles of
the above-mentioned Servant ofGod, Your Holiness rendered a well-deserved

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
tribute to this singular, saintly educator of youth and of souls. I shall there-
fore refrain from speaking about him again. All I wish to quote is a per-
sonal recollection of my own and it is this: the gentle figure of that man
of God still lives in me, as well as the profound impression he made on
me, when I had the privilege of kissing his hallowed hand, and ofreceiving
his paternal blessing. That impression has never been cancelled from my
mind.''
The Holy Father was the last to speak, and he wove the praises of the
Martyr and the Confessor into a magnificent pattern.
"Most beloved children, you have heard, and together with Us, you
have welcomed with devotion, jubilation, and with a deep feeling for what
is holy, the two Decrees that were just read: the first to proclaim the
martyrdom of Cosma of Carboniano, the glory of Armenia; the second to
confirm that, with a clear conscience, we may proceed with the solemn
Beatification of the Venerable Servant of God, the priest John Bosco, who
is the glory of Italy-and something infinitely greater-the glory of the
whole Catholic Church.
"There is so much that is splendid, sublime, and edifying, so much that
is great and holy in these two Decrees that We are sincerely tempted to let
them speak for themselves, in their own incomparable significance. Yet
even greater events call for some comment, a comment that would respond
to the duty to add something to them so that a greater spiritual benefit may
be derived from them. At this point We feel the need to yield to the need
of Our Heart, namely of Our own deep, warm, and personal appreciation
of the two themes of these Decrees. We shall therefore utter that word, and
We know well, also respond to your expectation, and it will be only one
shining word, within the richness and variety of things. The word is on
Divine Fidelity and on the incomparable wisdom of that great Mother and
Teacher which is the Church; it is a word of admiration and of adoration
for all those gradations of infinite goodness and, We were about to say,
nuances of infinite elegance, with which Divine Providence adorns all
things that are, already of themselves, infinitely precious.
This "We used the words 'Divine Fidelity.' is the concept which comes
to our mind when we listen (as we did during the reading of the Decree,
and in the speech of its warmly eloquent interpreter in whom we are happy
to salute almost the whole Armenia with us today), when we listen to the
life story of the Servant of God, Cosma of Carboniano, which goes back
to such a distant a date of his birth in 1658, and to the not too distant date
of his death, 1707. Beloved children, centuries separate us from him, yet,

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even though we are ages apart, Divine Goodness, Divine Fidelity, have not
forgotten the faithful, generous, Servant, who was heroic up to his death.
"We might almost say that Divine Goodness and Fidelity itself took
pains to go and open once again his glorious tomb that seemed almost
forgotten, to bend down, as though to summon his bones to new life and
proclaim their glory for men to see, coram Ecclesia, calling the venerable
martyr to the splendor of the highest honors. This is God's way of action;
this is the way of acting of His Divine Will. It may seem to us, at times,
that God does not think of us, or as some soul fallen into the depths of
sadness might say, that God does not care anymore. But it is precisely at
moments such as these that God reveals, in ways even more evident, the
constant care He has for His own beings. Fidelis Deus, this is the word
proclaimed loud and clear to us by his glorious tomb. Beloved children,
we will always be in the wrong, inevitably so, in any kind of situation, when
our faith in God falters. This is exactly what a saintly priest, a humble
Servant of God, told Us at the beginning of Our priesthood, and he was
fifty years old. 'Remember, what we lack most is trust in God's faithful-
ness, as it really is, that is, without limits or measure.'
"Most beloved children, We leave you with the recollection that comes
to Us from the tomb of a martyr, and with the recollection of the words
of a good and humble Servant of God, We leave you this recollection which
is not only a precious lesson which often reaches us in the bitter circum-
stances of life, in the darkness of the present and the darkness of the future,
but which also becomes in moments such as these a great consolation and
a great comfort. We must also add that it is exactly this immense and inex-
haustible trust which reached the heights of a continuous moral miracle,
this kind of trust that the Venerable John Bosco one day bequeathed to his
children, and now, we can rightly say, to the whole world. It is enough to
compare the humble beginnings of his work with the splendor it offers us
today; it is enough to consider the innumerable difficulties of all kinds,
both material and moral, created by his enemies, and at times, even by his
friends, and the infinite number of obstacles he had to overcome, and then
tum our attention to the magnificence and elegance and beauty of the tri-
umph accorded him all over the world when he was still alive, and then
we will understand just how much confidence in God and trust in His fidel-
ity can accomplish, when a soul is able to say sincerely: scio cui credidi
[I know whom I have trusted].
"This is the impression, which is still alive in Our mind today, and
which We formed in the days of Our youth, from the acquaintance which

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by grace and disposition of Divine Goodness, We were privileged to have
had with the Venerable Servant of God. At that time, and forever afterward,
he seemed to Us to be invincible and unconquerable, mainly because he
stood firm and solid in his absolute and complete trust in Divine Fidelity.
"We mentioned the incomparable wisdom of the Church, our great
Teacher and Mother, because it is the Church, which as a gentle mother
comes to express her gratitude to a son who glorified her; it is the Church,
which comes to place a glorious wreath of martyrdom on the tomb of
Cosma of Carboniano; it is the Church, the great teacher which presents
him to all, so that we may admire him, and all may imitate him. The honor
given and the gesture performed by the Church are great, but truly and
wisely so, only in proportion to merit. The Church is wise when, in the case
of martyrs, she looks no further: Dixi martyrem, satis est. No further
miracle is needed once the martyrdom is established, for this act of our
human frailty, supported by Divine grace, is sufficient. In her glorious
wisdom the Church is satisfied by this moderate demand while, in the case
of other saintly heroes, as we have just been informed in connection with
Don Bosco, she probes scrupulously, not only in her quest for truth, but
also for the proofs of truth which is being debated, investigated, and
proven, not just with any sort of certitude, but with a full juridical certitude,
a complete certitude even as far as the proofs. However, in the case of
martyrdom, it is enough that the fact of martyrdom be established, for, in
her wisdom, the Church knows how great and extraordinary a thing mar-
tyrdom is. With words that were indeed worthy of a genius, it was once
said that human weakness, nay, human greatness, could not and will not
perform any more magnificent gesture than to vest a humble human being
with the purple raiment of his own blood, and so act as a witness, as a
defender and as a champion of truth and justice; of that truth and of that
justice which judges and measures everything, and has the martyr stand
as its own defender, its own further proof. This is the magnificent spectacle
offered to us by this humble Armenian priest.
"Some people may think that the Church falls short of its wisdom,
when it proposes for imitation such greatness and magnificence. For how
can such great and heroic actions be held up for general imitation? Yet the
church knows that, at needed moments, such examples can raise up heroes,
a whole multitude of heroes, and a genuine multitude of chosen souls.
These words may sound contradictory, yet they are in perfect harmony with
that reality which is one of the most splendid and historic proofs of the
holiness of the Church.

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"In her wisdom, Holy Church points to another kind of imitation when
it proposes the martyrs as models to be imitated by the faithful. For martyr-
dom does not consist solely in the shedding of blood, but it can also be
bloodless. Infinite is the number of bloodless martyrdoms, at all levels of
society and the most diverse situations of history. Here we might quote the
sublime words of an ancient Saint and Doctor of the Church who said that
celebrationes martyrum sunt exhortationes martyriorum [the celebrations
in honor of martyrs are exhortations for martyrdom]. There are some souls,
some Christian people, who, inspired by the examples of martyrs, volun-
tarily consecrate themselves to the precious bloodless martyrdom needed
to keep one's chastity inviolate. There is a bloodless martyrdom embraced
by so many souls who, even when everything is offered to them and every-
thing lies in their hands, leave everything, renounce everything, only to
embrace the privations of poverty. There is the bloodless martyrdom of so
many willing people who, fully aware of their rights and of their dignity,
renounce their freedom to submit themselves entirely, at great cost, to obe-
dience, even when obedience comes enveloped by the darkness of advice
not widely known and not fully understood. Infinite is the number of blood-
less forms of martyrdom endured quietly in humble households and Chris-
tian family circles. How many souls have endured genuine martyrdom to
preserve their purity and the honor of the family, rather than purchase com-
forts at the exorbitant price ofone's integrity. How many souls have engaged
in truly bloody fights where real blood was represented by privations and
tears! How many have been the bloodless martyrdoms only to remain pure,
chaste, worthy of the name of manhood, and Christians, in the midst of so
much base depravity, only to remain honest amid the unbridled lust of riches,
to remain humble with sincere Christian humility of mind and heart in the
midst ofunrestrained arrogance, ambition for power and injustice! Toe Church
really expects a heroic martyrdom from every one of its children, for really,
who is able to escape such bloodless martyrdom? Wherever there are duties
to be performed, wherever there are difficulties and obstacles obstructing
the fulfillment of our duties, that is exactly where the bloodless martyrdom
has to be entered into by souls who are concerned about worthily safe-
guarding the glory of God and of His Church.
"In closing We wish to speak of the very delicate, very elegant, designs
and dispositions of Divine Providence. This humble martyr, so glorious
after so many difficulties and contradictions provided by man, times, and
things, now, so to speak, takes front stage in history: he comes from an
initial disunity to a unity which is desired, sought for, and effectively found

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
in the unity of the Catholic Church, a unity confirmed by blood. He comes
to tell us all of these things exactly at a moment in which throughout the
Catholic Church there is such a great concern and zeal, far superior to any
praise for, the attainment of unity. And furthermore, this old acquain-
tanceship of Ours and (We could say) friendship with Don Bosco, even
though We were at the beginning of Our priesthood and he was about to
reach its sunset, this priestly friendship of Ours which makes him come
alive in Our heart with all the joy, cheerfulness, edification provided by his
memory, has been re-kindled exactly during these days and these hours.
It is now that this figure, the great Servant of God, appears on the horizon,
not only of this country but of the entire world; it is now exactly when
particular and solemnly important events have been recorded in the history
of the Holy See and of the Church and of this country. We must remember,
with our knowledge of facts, that Don Bosco was one of the first, eminent,
and respected men who deplored the systematic tampering with the rights
of the Church and of the Holy See, who lamented that those who governed
the country were following pathways which were practically impossible
to walk on without trampling upon the most Sacred Rights of the Church.
"Don Bosco was among the first men who appealed to both God and
man, so that a possible remedy be found for so many troubles, so that a
possible solution be found in order that the sun ofjustice might again shine
and provide serenity for human spirits. Divine Providence leads him,
proposes him, to the fullness of sacred honors, exactly in these hours and
in the wake of the events that he himself forecast. Don Bosco's Beatifi-
cation shall be the first that We will joyously proclaim before the world
after these events. There is nothing that we can do but give thanks, and
wonder. What is there for us to fear, what is there that we may not venture
to hope and trust, with certainty that we will be graciously heard, when we
find ourselves face to face with the Lord Who is so faithful a Master, and
with a Divine Providence so exquisitely and delicately generous?
"It is with these sentiments that We impart to all of you Our Apostolic
Blessing, in response as well to your filial request that has been directed
to Us. We impart it to each and every one of you here present today, and
to all whom you represent: We impart it, in particular, to Don Bosco's
immense family, to all his sons and daughters, their Houses and schools
scattered all over the world, so that, through them, Our blessing may be
conveyed throughout the world.

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The "Tuto" Decree
105
"We also impart a sincere, paternal, and affectionate blessing to the
beloved country of Armenia, to all our beloved Armenian sons and daugh-
ters, wherever the bloody storm of war may have driven them. Together
with this tender, fatherly, and pastoral blessing goes Our hope that, one day,
We may see all of them liberated and comforted after so many tribulations,
sacrifices and bloodshed, and (as the Venerable Martyr leads us to hope)
that the dissidents may return to the fold so that the day may come, as
predicted, that the hope and prophecy of the Divine Shepherd be fulfilled,
that there will be one flock, one shepherd. We bless first the Venerable Hier-
archy, the Bishops, and priests, together with their flocks, wherever they
may be now. Our blessing is one full of fatherly pride and admiration suited
to the great and wonderful events that are being recalled today, as we honor
the memory of the holy martyr, St. Gaumida."
The Apostolic Blessing brought the ceremony to an end, and also
closed the Cause of Don Bosco's Beatification.

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Qlqupter 7
The Solemn Identification of Don Bosco's Body
Don Bosco's mortal remains had by now become a Sacred relic.
However, the Church, which venerates the relics of Saints, does not allow
any act of cult to be directed to them until it has been properly ascertained
whether a given body, and every single part thereof, truly belongs to the
person to whom they are attributed. For this reason the Church prescribes
that a solemn canonical identification of the body be carried out. The
identification of Don Bosco's body began on May 16, 1929, at the Salesian
House ofValsalice, where the tomb had been kept for more than forty years.
Everything was properly arranged as demanded by the sacred canons.
In answer to a petition presented by the Postulator of the Cause, Father
Tomasetti, the Sacred Congregation of Rites had issued a Decree dated
April 27th, granting to Cardinal Gamba, Archbishop ofTurin, all the neces-
sary faculties to proceed and perform the identification of the body, either
personally or by delegating a priest endowed with ecclesiastic dignity. The
Postulator came from Rome to deliver the text of the Decree, accompanied
by Bishop Salotti, the Promoter of the Faith, whose duty it was to impart
the necessary instructions, and supervise the proceedings to make sure that
everything was done in the manner prescribed. His Eminence chose to carry
out the assigned task personally, with the assistance of two Canons, Dese-
condi and Maritano, who were, respectively, Assistant Promoter ofthe Faith,
and Chancellor in the Apostolic Process.
All the above-mentioned people, together with the three physicians and
two witnesses, gathered in the Aula Magna of the school the evening of
May 16th. Here, the Promoter of the Faith asked first of all the Cardinal
and the two Canons to take an oath that they would perform scrupulously
the task assigned to them. Then the physicians appointed as anatomic experts,
Peynetti, Rocca and Filippello, took a similar oath before the Cardinal. The
Promoter ofthe Faith then called forward two Salesian priests, Fathers Secun-
dus Manione and Melchior Marocco, who were to state, under oath, whether,
when and how Don Bosco' s mortal remains had ever been moved from the
place where they had been laid to rest in 1888, and if, after having been
eventually removed, they were put back into their original place. Their tes-
timony, based on their direct and personal knowledge of the circumstances,

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The Solemn Identification of Don Rosco's Body
107
aimed at excluding any doubt as to the identity of that very corpse they
were dealing with. As instrumental witnesses whose task it was to attest
to the formal regularity of the proceedings, the Economer General of the
Salesian Society, Father Fidel Giraudi, and another Salesian, Father Albert
De Agostini, swore that they would perform their task conscientiously. Then,
at last, with the consent of the Promoter of the Faith, two Daughters of
Mary Help of Christians, designated as assistant helpers, were to take an
oath that they would assist conscientiously in the examination and recom-
position of the venerated remains. After these preliminary formalities, which
were duly recorded in the minutes, His Eminence and the Promoter of the
Faith left the hall with all the other above-mentioned people and proceeded
to the crypt where Don Bosco was buried.
A number of authorities, and some invited guests, were already waiting
there. The tall, distinguished figure of the Mayor of Turin, Count Thaon
di Revel, towered over all the others. Next to him there were several people,
such as the representatives of the clergy, the Federal Secretary of the Court
Magistrates and civic departments, as well as a large group of doctors. The
Superiors of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians formed a group
apart from the others. The Major Superiors of the Salesian Society, led by
Father Philip Rinaldi, the Rector Major, were lined up on either side of the
tomb. A number of Salesians, with the college students of the Valsalice
School and students from other Salesian schools, were assembled in the
courtyard. Although the event had not been publicized, word had somehow
gotten around, and a considerable number of people had managed to enter.
By the time the Cardinal and his following appeared, Bishop Salotti
had already removed the monumental stone that adorned Don Bosco' s
vault, so that it took only a few minutes to break the wall behind it and
to reveal the coffin placed therein. In the most religious silence and with
an emotion shared by all, the coffin was gently and swiftly removed from
the vault and placed on a wooden table where everyone could see it.
Following the example of the Rector Major, the Cardinal, the Mayor and
the other eminent personalities among those present, stepped forward to
kiss the coffin with reverence and affectionate admiration.
Six Salesian priests, each wearing a surplice, lifted the beloved burden
on their shoulders, and took it into a chamber that had been decorated in
advance with drapery, flowers, and branches of evergreens. They were led
by a long line of clerics, who recited the psalms taken from the office of
holy Confessors, and carried lighted candles in their hands. They were
followed in procession by distinguished personages, with a many people

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
lined up along the sides and showing a devout attitude. On the rear wall
of the hall there hung the picture of a smiling Don Bosco, reproduced from
a painting by Rollini. In the center of the hall there was a wide table and
the coffin was placed on it. Once the authorities and invited guests gathered
in the hall, the doors were locked and the processes began.
Meanwhile, there were some moving and touching scenes outside the
hall. Just as in the Roman Catacombs, where pilgrims pause next to the
open vaults in which the first martyrs were laid to rest, without being
dismayed by the sight of their remains, but rather experiencing feelings of
compassion towards them, likewise here the crowd stopped and gazed at
the empty vault, which, like a mother's womb, had kept the mortal remains
of Don Bosco for forty-five years. They were all absorbed in their loving
thoughts. In the crowd there were mothers who gently laid down their
ailing offspring inside the vault, hoping that Don Bosco would obtain the
grace of recovery for them. A little blind boy called out: "Don Bosco, let
me see!" The bricks and plaster heaped at the foot of the wall where it had
been demolished were reverently taken. One little boy grasped the edge
of the empty tomb and climbed into it, stretched himself out at full length,
and cried: "Now, I'm like Don Bosco." Other children imitated him, eager
in their tum, to "be like Don Bosco." More groups of school children
arrived from Turin, to pray by the hallowed tomb of this great friend of
Youth.
Many of the people outside envied the good fortune of the privileged
few that had gained access to the hall where Don Bosco's body was to be
identified, and with the hope that they, too, might soon be able to see the
venerated remains of the Saint at close range, they crowded eagerly around
the windows. But they were victims of delusion, because they did not know
that the process would last a long time.
Before the coffin was opened, Bishop Salotti who was an eloquent
orator with a fiery temperament, and who was a staunch admirer of Don
Bosco, gave a short, affectionate speech which began thus: "Yesterday
evening, it was my privilege to be received by the Holy Father who told
me: 'Go to Turin willingly, and assure Cardinal Gamba that We are gratified
by the solemn services he has held in Don Bosco's city in honor of Our
Priestly Jubilee. Tell the Salesian family that We share in their joy, and that
their joy is Our own.'" After making this announcement he added that he
felt deeply moved now that he was soon to see opened the coffin that
contained the mortal remains of the man who had left the marks of his
footprints on modem society and who had fascinated his own generation

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The Solemn Identification of Don Bosco's Body
109
and those generations to follow, immortalizing his name for all future
centuries. "If we wish to evaluate correctly the full meaning of his under-
takings and the difficulties he encountered, we have to go back to the days
when he first began his work for the good of all, and understand the
mentality of his contemporaries," he said. "There were even some Prelates
who were terrified when they looked at the undertakings of this poor priest
from the Asti area. And then there were also outstanding persons like the
Marquis of Cavour, father and champion of Italian Unity, who did not
hesitate to show their real concerns: the little urchins who were marshaled
and assisted by Don Bosco were described as a pack of jailbirds, who
reputedly were destined to create for a tomorrow feared to be imminent,
a movement which would have a touch of the subversive and would cause
much trouble. Instead, Don Bosco was intent on turning those rascals, as
he really did, into good Italian citizens and good workers. And it was
through them that new furrows were ploughed in the life of your own
Piedmont, and the whole of Italy; it was through them that men were
formed who climbed the lofty ladder of ecclesiastical dignity, of the army,
of diplomacy, of politics, of the courts. Even you yourself, Your Eminence,
would have been drawn into his orbit, had you not had to look after that
good angel, your mother!" The speaker then went on to say that the
identification of the corpse was a rite that had to be approached with great
faith. "We do not know yet in what condition the corpse may be found,"
he cautioned, "but whatever it is that we find-bones, or merely ashes-it
will represent a Man of God who lived by the Gospel, and who directed
towards virtue every human event." Finally, as General Promoter of the
Faith, he warned all present that, under penalty of excommunication,
nothing was to be touched, removed, or tampered with in any way.
After his speech elaboratis verbis et magna cum cordis emotione [with
eloquent words and heartfelt emotion] (as the minutes pointed out) he had
the Canon Clerk read out the reports of the identification, and re-internment,
carried out respectively the 13th-15th ofOctober, 1917. After this, the screws
were removed from the first coffin and the lid was raised to reveal the sec-
ond coffin, bound with knotted ribbon and protected by seals. His Emi-
nence checked the seals on the coffin of 1917 to make sure that they were
those of his predecessor, Cardinal Richelmy; then he broke them. At that
moment, everybody in the room stepped closer to look at the corpse, which
was about to become visible to their gaze.
When the second coffin lid was removed, lo and behold, what was left
of the great Don Bosco! The general feeling was a painful one. The corpse

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
did not offer anything exceptional. The ravages of time and chemical
ingredients had destroyed it. Silently and deeply moved, all looked at the
remains of the glorious Servant of God, trying to reconstruct with their
memory his amiable and beloved features. Then the Archbishop and the
other authorities left the room, accompanied by Father Rinaldi and the
other Salesian Superiors, making room for the doctors to carry out their
duties.
The crowd, however, now forced its way into the room, and delayed
the work of the doctors. Salesian clerics halted the people and directed an
orderly entrance into the hall. Hundreds of people, distinguished as well
as ordinary folks, young and old, healthy and sick, filed past the remains,
crying out, praying and touching the coffin with their hands. Two women
who had been miraculously cured were in tears, and seemed like two
mysterious beings come from a world far away to bear witness to the
sanctity which at one time had been alive in those wasted limbs.
When the flow of people subsided, the coffins were closed again and
carried into another hall near the school chapel where the doctors were at
last able to commence their work. But since it was already late, it was decided
to postpone the beginning of their work to the following day. Before they
left the room, they made sure that no one could possibly gain access from
outside. Then the Chancellor sealed the door with the archepiscopal seals,
in the presence of the Assistant Promoter of the Faith and the instrumental
witnesses.
From now on we shall skip similar formalities, prescribed by the Sacred
Canons so as to prevent any possibility of violation. Next morning, from
the early hours, the road that runs from the River Po to the Salice River
and borders it all the way to the school, gradually filled with people-groups
of ordinary people, mostly workers going up, driven by the desire to see
Don Bosco. It was touching to see that they had brought along their break-
fast which they ate on the way, since they had risen early to make time to
have the consolation of seeing Don Bosco. As the day went on, the crowd
increased: laymen, priests, men and women crowded the big courtyard of
the school, and patiently waited their turn. The Superiors had been able to
have the seals removed early, in order that they might grant access to the
place where Don Bosco lay, for they did not want to disappoint so many
people. Yet at one o'clock they were obliged to clear the room and prohibit
access to anyone except the doctors and the ecclesiastical authorities, so
that the process of identification of the body might begin.

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The Solemn Identification of Don Rosco's Body
111
The steady flow of pilgrims continued throughout the day, and started
anew, and even increased, the following day. Again the faithful were per-
mitted to look at Don Bosco' s hallowed remains for only a few hours. The
vast majority had to be satisfied with a visit to the tomb where Don Bosco' s
body had been laid, and the chapel of the Pieta that was located above it.
On the 18th of March a public announcement was carried by all the news-
papers: "The General Headquarters of the Salesians is touched by the gen-
eral manifestation of affection which has been shown to the mortal remains
of Don Bosco by so many people, and gratefully express their thanks to
everyone. However, regretfully they announce that, for the present time,
further visits are to be suspended. It will be duly announced later on when
the faithful will be allowed, once again, to satisfy their pious desire."
This announcement, however, did not stop the tide of people from
Turin or the visitors from other parts, who filled the courtyard, spread out
under the porticoes, and prayed next to the empty tomb. Groups of school
children came from all the schools of the town; great amounts of flowers
were brought, to the point of turning that place into a garden.
The doctors had three duties to perform: first of all, they had to remove
all the clothing that covered the body; then they had to proceed to examine
whatever was made evident and finally to make arrangements for the
preservation of the skeleton. On the whole, they were satisfied that, apart
from the inevitable natural ravages of time, the corpse showed no signs of
any rupture or tampering of any kind. This was the first matter they had
to ascertain. Here is a brief description of the work accomplished.
The whole body was clothed in priestly vestments; the feet were kept
in shoes, which were worn out and open at the top since the stitching was
rotten. The biretta lay next to the head; on his chest there was a wooden
crucifix with an oxidized metal figure of Christ, and a small scapular of
Mary Help of Christians. There was also another scapular of Our Lady of
Mount Carmel.
The doctors first removed the surrounding remains and the various
decomposing fragments, and carefully deposited them in glass urns with
lids; then with great care they removed the alb, the collar, the cassock, and
whatever was left, which were also put inside larger glass urns. Later on,
the soft parts ex carnibus and ex ossibus [from flesh and bones] were placed
into three small glass urns. All these parts would later on be used as proper
material for relics. For this reason, Father Giraudi, the Economer General,
had already prepared thousands of small reliquiaries to contain the relics.
The Doctors by now had brought to light the isolated body, which was

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
raised up and freed from those pieces of clothing which had been attached
to the back; it was placed on a surgical table set up next to the casket. The
venerated remains of Don Bosco were thus displayed in the following state.
The skeleton was anatomically complete; the bones were dry, solid,
still in their natural place; the joints were still connected by ligaments and
by soft parts still intact; the skin teguments of the head were dried up through
the process of mummification and covered completely the bones of the
skull and face; the shape of the face was well-preserved because it was still
properly joined to the jaw. All hair was visible and almost all was black.
Much of the thorax was mummified, so that the ribs and the backbone formed
a compact whole, while in the hollow areas they found the dried fragments
of internal organs. The soft parts of the back and of the loins were also
well- preserved, as were those parts which joined and held together the
bones of the pelvis-you could also see the two femurs attached to them,
amply wrapped in mummified muscles. Even the skeletal frame of legs and
feet were also well-preserved in its attachment to the remainder of the body,
despite the absence of soft parts. The doctors concluded one oftheir reports
with a declaration and an observation as follows: "The undersigned physi-
cians declare that on the whole, the mortal remains of the Venerable Don
Bosco are well-preserved and, for the satisfaction of the faithful and devo-
tees and admirers of this great Apostle of Youth and of the People, we wish
to add that among the various organs, the tongue is amazing well-preserved."
Don Bosco's tongue! It was only natural that people would find some
significance in its excellent preservation, destined to glorify the gift of that
speech which, throughout his entire life, had been so powerful an instru-
ment in doing good-from the pulpit, in the confessional, between the four
walls of his humble room, in his travels, and in the playground of the
Valdocco Oratory during the first decades of his apostolic labors among
children. Don Bosco's tongue had spoken only to give praise to God, to
provide his fellow human beings with teachings. The words formed by that
tongue provided light to the mind, peace to troubled hearts, mystical
exaltation to the spirit, an invitation to conversion, a spur to perseverance,
a soothing power for the ailments of life and for the eternal salvation of
countless souls.
On behalf of the Salesian Superiors, the Postulator of the Cause, Father
Francis Tomasetti, expressed the desire that the doctors should inquire into
what procedure would be best to preserve the precious remains of Don
Bosco. In their eagerness to respond to such a desire, the physicians, with

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The Solemn Identification of Don Bosco's Body
113
the consent of the Promoter of the Faith, sent for Dr. George Canuto, a
professor at Turin University, who took the ritual oath, and went to work.
With the help of other physicians, the professor wrapped the skeleton
tightly in a winding sheet impregnated up to the point of saturation with
an aromatic colloidal preparation. This preservation process lasted quite
some time, and was carried out in such a way that the trunk, pelvis and
thighs might remain all in one piece. The remaining pieces which were
attached, were protected with a solution and an alcoholic varnish, either
of shellac resin or ofbenzoic rubber. This is a mixture which ifwell-prepared,
assures the lasting preservation of a body.
Some parts of the body were removed to become relics, some of which
were to go to Rome, as tradition demanded, while others were to be handed
to the Salesian Superiors. The former would be placed in sumptuous
reliquaries, to be presented to the Holy Father, the Cardinals, and the
Sacred Congregation after the Beatification ceremony; the latter, entrusted
to Father Philip Rinaldi, would also be put into reliquaries, and later
distributed among the Salesians, the Sisters of Mary Help of Christians,
Archbishops, Bishops, public churches, private chapels, and eminent bene-
factors of the Salesian Society. Foremost among the relics that Bishop
Salotti entrusted to Father Philip Rinaldi were the tongue, and the right
lung, which alone was preserved. One hundred and twenty-eight grams of
dried cerebral matter that the doctors had removed from the skull through
the wide occipital opening, were also given to Father Philip Rinaldi, who,
after the Beatification, divided the matter up in a number of small glass
phials, that were then encased in small precious reliquaries, for distribution
to the Provincial Superiors of the Salesian Society and the Sisters of Mary
Help of Christians.
Repeated announcements in the press, reminding people that access to
the hallowed remains would be suspended temporarily, had a contrary
effect. Apparently, people did not believe it, or they hoped to by-pass the
regulations, for they came in a steady flow and in increasing numbers, from
morning till night. The Salesians had to find some means by which they
could respond satisfactorily to these people, who would not resign them-
selves to the idea of going away, dissatisfied. So the Salesians had recourse
to an expedient, and that was to allow them to have religious objects and
the garments of sick people who had pinned their hope of recovery on Don
Bosco, touch Don Bosco's head.
When the operations described above were completed, the physicians
prepared the body for clothing. The garments were to settle directly on the

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
skeleton, which was put on a crimson velvet couch, a gift from the Boggio
family, fringed with gold and secured by special orthopedic fixtures.
It was now May 23rd, and in view of the fact that the process of
clothing the body would take some time, it was decided to delay action for
some days, until the feast of Mary Help of Christians was over.
That year, a crowd of visitors far larger than usual attended the cele-
brations at Valdocco, and consequently there was an exceptional excess of
visitors at Valsalice. On the eve of the feast of Mary Help of Christians,
six priests and two nuns were on duty from eight o'clock in the morning
until one o'clock in the afternoon, for the sole purpose of receiving the
rosaries, medals, crucifixes, and pieces of clothing handed to them by the
faithful, so that they might touch the body of Don Bosco with them, and
then hand them back.
Shortly after one o'clock, the Superiors and the pupils of Valsalice
were allowed to see the mortal remains of Don Bosco. How eagerly they
kissed his hand, and his head! Something sacred was astir in that hall which
invited people to be recollected and led them to meditate. The chamber was
lavishly decorated with flowers, which filled the air with a gentle fragrance;
a number of bouquets were strewn all around the hallowed remains.
This visit made by those people we just mentioned became the source
of a rumor, which circulated, namely that Don Bosco' s remains, or more
simply "Don Bosco," could be seen. Word spread rapidly to the neigh-
boring countryside, and peasants hurried from their farmhouses in a steady
flow. Word also reached the city and long lines of motor cars sent the crowd
scattering as they entered the playground or parked down the street.
By evening, the crush was so immense that the local police had to
intervene to take control and direct traffic. The Salesian Superiors were so
impressed by this sincere, fervent enthusiasm that they decided to meet the
general desires of the faithful, and thus a long procession began to wind
past the body. In that dense mingling of people from all walks of life, pious
events did occur which brought people to tears.
The stream of visitors never abated for a single moment, from early
morning until late at night, on the feast of Mary Help of Christians. The
total number of visitors was estimated to be approximately twenty thousand.
The Economer General, Father Fidelis Giraudi, who was in charge of
all that was happening at Valsalice, did not find it in his heart to tum away,
dissatisfied, the vast crowd who came so eagerly to pay tribute to Don
Bosco's remains. Consequently, he arranged for a police detail to maintain
order, and with the consent of the canonical guardians, reopened the doors

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115
of the room where Don Bosco lay, and which now seemed transformed into
a garden of fragrant flowers.
In God's good time, the corpse was clothed anew with the vestments
worn by a priest when he officiates at the altar. The body was placed on
a large cushion of sumptuous velvet, embroidered by the Sisters. The black
silk socks on the feet had been knitted by the young war orphans entrusted
to the Sisters; the doctors had prohibited any use of wool in order to remove
the danger of moths. The trade schools of Valdocco had supplied the shoes
and cassock. The Superiors of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians
donated the beautiful amice, which was adorned by a cross in the center,
surrounded by embroidered symbols. A surplice of genuine Brussels lace
was a token of the deep veneration that the niece of Archbishop Gastaldi,
Countess Maze de la Roche, had always felt for Don Bosco. The chasuble,
with a matching stole and maniple, was an exquisite gift from the Supreme
Pontiff, Benedict XV, to the Rector Major, Father Paul Albera, Don Bosco' s
second successor, on the occasion of his golden priestly jubilee in 1918.
The veil for the chalice, which formed part of the set with the chasuble,
was used in making the second pillow to support Don Bosco's head.
Don Bosco's remains, thus vested, were placed inside a large recep-
tacle made entirely from pure crystal, that was later put inside another
container of gilded wood, an exquisite piece of work created by the Sale-
sian trade school of San Benigno Canavese. The mask, which was attached
to the head, had been fashioned by Cellini, the sculptor who created the
monument to Don Bosco in the Piazza-Maria-Ausiliatrice in Turin, and
Charles Cussetti had painted it.
Those who saw it felt that they were viewing once again, the gentle
features of the beloved Father, who looked as though he were sleeping
peacefully, with hands crossed on his breast. The hands were also the work
of the sculptor, Cellini.
The following days, many more people than before kept going to
Valsalice. That road, to man's memory, never was trod by so many people
and for such a long time, persistently moving to see Don Bosco.
Around the receptacle, people were praying. For brief moments many
placed rosaries or holy pictures on the crystal panels that enclosed the body.
Several sick people dragged themselves to Valsalice and were allowed to
linger a little longer than others at the side of the container where, full of
hope, they invoked Don Bosco.
Orderly groups and groups of students from educational and charitable
institutions filed past the remains ofDon Bosco. One day a gallant company

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
of Black Shirts appeared, to place a magnificent wreath of flowers on the
crystal container. One by one they filed past, bending to kiss the smooth
crystal and taking away with them, as cherished souvenirs, field flowers
they had found here and there in odd comers. Many contingents of "Piccole
ltaliane" [little Italian girls] and "Balilla" boys came as well. All this
public veneration was a bit premature; but no one had foreseen it. Now that
it had begun, no one could stop it, and so the Promoter of the Faith
pretended not to notice.
Meanwhile, as the date scheduled for Don Bosco's Beatification drew
nearer, foreign pilgrims on their way to Rome stopped in Turin between
trains, and, when possible, they went to Valdocco. In the playgrounds, one
heard greetings in different languages. Many ventured as far as Valsalice.
Salesians from the different countries of both the Old and the New
World, and from foreign missions, were leaving for Rome daily. Most of
them were Provincial Superiors or delegates of Provinces who were com-
ing to Italy to attend the General Chapter of the Salesian Society, scheduled
for the month of July at Valsalice. They were joined on their way to the
Eternal City by groups of boys who were en route to represent their
companions from hundreds and hundreds of schools and oratories. The
Motherhouse of Turin alone sent 250 boarders and 125 Oratory boys.
Foremost among the Salesians who visited Rome were the Prefects
Apostolic and Vicars Apostolic, and resident Bishops of Italy, America and
India. The Salesian Cardinal, August Hlond, Archbishop of Gniezno and
Poznan, and Primate of Poland, took an airplane directly from his See to
the airport outside Rome. Never before had any Prince of the Church
undertaken such a flight!
His Roman friends gave a hearty welcome to Father Philip Rinaldi, the
third successor of Don Bosco as Rector Major. Worldwide attention cen-
tered more closely on Rome, where the press devoted a good deal of
consideration to the forthcoming Beatification, regarded as an event of
universal importance.
As we leave the faithful pilgrims directing their steps to Valsalice and
continuing uninterruptedly their devotion until the triumphant moment of
Don Bosco's body's transference, we will direct our steps towards the
capital of the Catholic world, to see for ourselves all the remarkable things
that happened prior to, during, and after, the glorious event of Don Bosco's
Beatification.

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C1tqapter 8
Don Bosco's Beatification in Rome
In September 1927, at the audience granted to Bishop Henry Mourao,
Salesian Bishop of Campos, Brazil, the Holy Father Pius XI told him that
he would be very happy if Don Bosco's Beatification were to coincide with
his own priestly jubilee.1 Divine Providence so ordained that the Pope's
Jubilee year would be gladdened by two great events. The first of these was
precisely the Beatification of Don Bosco, and the second was the Reconci-
liation of Italy, as a nation, with the Holy See. There was a close link con-
necting these.2 The former, however, was itself a truly historic occurence
for both Italy and the world. What seemed barely possible on the eve of
the event, was transformed into a luminous reality on June 2, 1929. But
let us deal with them in an orderly and coherent manner.
EVENTS PRIOR TO DON BOSCO'S BEATIFICATION
Intensive preparations were underway in Turin, where everyone fore-
saw that the event would be exceptionally grand. But we shall speak of
what happened in Turin in our next chapter. Here, however, we will mention
only what was associated with the Roman celebration. It was anticipated
in the Turin area that Cooperators, friends, and past pupils from Piedmont
would be going to Rome. For this reason, a committee was appointed to
help pilgrims with travel plans and accommodations, and to arrange spe-
cial leaves of absence for workers. The committee also had impressed a
special badge for the pilgrims to wear on their chests, to help them recog-
nize one another immediately whenever they met. As early as March 13th,
Humbert Renda, the Royal School Superintendent of Piedmont, sent a cir-
cular letter to all the autonomous municipalities, principals of secondary
schools of all categories and degrees, royal school inspectors, and local
directors of education, to inform them officially of the forthcoming eleva-
tion of the Venerable Don Bosco to the honor of the Altar. In view of his
great contribution to the field of education, the Superintendent ordered that
a public commemorative celebration should be held ofthis friend and teacher
1 Letter from the Bishop to Father Philip Rinaldi, Campos, January 26, 1929.
2 Special edition on "Don Bosco and the Conciliation" published by the Salesians in Rome, June 2, 1929.
It contained a significant article by Marquis Philip Crispolti, Senator of the Realm (Appendix, Document 11).

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
of children, in all schools prior to the Easter holidays. Such a commemo-
ration was to be enacted by the class teachers in elementary schools, and
by the professor of Literature in the secondary schools; in teachers' training
schools by the professor of Philosophy. The Superintendent took a further
step. He authorized a week's vacation for the period of the Roman cele-
brations, so as to make it easier for all the teachers under his jurisdiction
to go to Rome. As the time for the Beatification ceremony drew nearer,
Cardinal Gamba, the Archbishop of Turin, addressed the following letter
to the clergy in his archdiocese: "Not only does the great Salesian family,
whose Founder is now to be elevated to the honor of the Altar, hail this
august event in jubilation, but the whole of Piedmont does as well; I might
even say that it is hailed by the entire Catholic world, for the heroic virtues,
the sanctity, and great merits of this illustrious Turin priest are known every-
where." He issued instructions that at noontime on Sunday, June 2nd, the
bells of all parish churches were to ring forth festively, to inform the faith-
ful that Don Bosco's Beatification was now an accomplished fact, while
during that same afternoon, after advanced notice to the faithful, a Te Deum
was to be sung in all parish churches. The following Sunday, the church
bells were to ring as for a feast once more, to hail the solemn transference
of Don Bosco' s mortal remains.
Cardinal Gamba was a former pupil of the Valdocco Oratory, and he
had affectionate memories of Don Bosco, of whom he always spoke with
genuine and warm enthusiasm. Had he not hastened to join the coffin
bearers, and helped them support their burden with his own two hands at
the time when the bier of Don Bosco was carried from its original vault
to the balcony above? The Saint, who had noticed the young man's excel-
lent qualities, would have liked to have him become one of his Salesians,
but when he realized that the youth could not leave his widowed mother
all alone in the world, Don Bosco made an attempt to alter his plan to enter
the archdiocesan Seminary. All he recommended was that, when the time
came that he no longer had to look after his mother, he should return to
the Oratory where he would welcome him eagerly. But when the young
man's mother died at last, her son was already Bishop of Biella. He, too,
went to Rome, naturally.
For three days, trains carried thousands of pilgrims headed for Rome.
The two worldwide families of the one to be Beatified were sending their
representatives from every nation. One family had its Bishops, priests, and
pupils. The other family had its Sisters and their pupils. The diocesan

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Directors of the Pious Union of Cooperators also had organized pilgrim-
ages for their members. The Hospice of the Sacred Heart became akin to
a haven, since all the new arrivals were to go there, as to a meeting place,
and as an orientation center. Father Simonetti, the Provincial, and Father
Colombo, the house Director, had foreseen in good time what an extraor-
dinary flow of visitors there would be. Therefore, they had made the
necessary arrangements to respond, to whatever the circumstances would
demand. They had set up a committee of past pupils who diligently man-
aged to guarantee suitable lodgings, to handle correspondence, and to
expedite matters of all kinds. The committee was permanently on duty, to
respond to all inquiries.
Solemn receptions welcomed diocesan pilgrimages from different parts
of Italy and national groups from abroad. Particularly heartwarming were
the cordial receptions provided for the Salesian Houses and Oratories. There
were thirty-two houses represented, and five of them were accompanied
by their own band of musicians. Their arrival was hailed with fraternal
manifestations of joy by the pupils living in the House, who became even
more enthusiastic when 250 boys arrived in Rome from the Turin Oratory
which had been Don Bosco's original Oratory, and now had become the
headquarters of Don Bosco's undertakings. Many Roman households, to
whom a simple request was made, deemed it an honor to extend their hospi-
tality to prelates and other important people. Italian, French, British, Polish,
Spanish and American pilgrims mingled in the playground and strolled beneath
the porticoes of the Hospice of the Sacred Heart, all united by brotherly
love in the name of Don Bosco.
On the eve of the Beatification ceremony, the Holy Father honored the
pilgrims from Piedmont by receiving them at a special audience. The first
vespers of the feast had almost arrived. Some three thousand fellow coun-
trymen from Don Bosco's native region climbed the stairs of the Vatican
during the afternoon ofJuly 1st, lined up along the first gallery, and crowded
into the Ducal and Borgia halls, as well as into the Hall of Blessings. The
Episcopate was represented by Pinardi, the Auxiliary Bishop of Turin, and
by four Ordinaries: Spandre of Asti, Filipello of Ivrea, Rossi of Susa, and
Travaini of Cuneo and Fossano. Next, there were also some three hundred
priests, a number of Piedmontese aristocrats, and finally a vast crowd of
ordinary people.
The Holy Father descended from his chambers, accompanied by Car-
dinal Gamba, and as he moved along through the crowd he held out his
hand to be kissed, amidst shouts of applause, acclamation and songs. When

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
he reached the Hall of Blessings where all the pilgrims had gathered, he
took his seat on the throne. The Cardinal Archbishop delivered a short
speech, expressing his filial devotion and his good wishes for the Pope's
Jubilee. Speaking from the heart, the Cardinal voiced the general feelings
of love and esteem for the Holy Father that were shared by all the pilgrims
from Turin and Piedmont, who had come to Rome, not only to honor the
Venerable Don Bosco, elevated to the honor of the Altar, but also to
demonstrate their deep devotion to the Pope, and to extend to him their
sincere good wishes for the fiftieth anniversary of his priestly ordination,
after having prayed for him during their Jubilee visit to the Vatican Basilica.
The Holy Father then replied:
"We extend the welcome of a paternal heart to all Our beloved
children-to Our dear priests of God, to Our venerable Brothers
in the Episcopate, to His Eminence, the Cardinal, and to all of you
who have come from Our beloved Piedmont, strong and faithful
to the Holy religion of its ancestors, faithful to an eminently strong
Christian life. We welcome you, who come to Us filled with pious
sentiments.
''Your spokesman, the Cardinal, has embellished his speech
with his pastoral affection; but We saw, with Our own eyes what
your sentiments were when We passed among you, moving as for
a review which, rapid though it was, enabled Us to make Our
personal acquaintance with all of you. We heard your sentiments
expressed by your enthusiastic acclamations and applause, and
now We extend to you, once again, Our paternal welcome.
"This pilgrimage appears particularly pious for two reasons.
First of all, it is pious because it is filled with that true and reli-
gious piety inspired by the Faith of your and Our Don Bosco
whom We have come to know, by the grace of God, with whom
We have lived for some days-and now he grants Us the grace to
elevate him to the honor of the Altar. The Piedmontese pilgrims
have come to deposit before this newly erected altar the first fruits
of the whole wide world, for wherever Don Bosco is known, so
are his works.
"Another pious reason has brought you here: the piety of your
souls, a kind of piety which is most important, because over and
above all else we must save souls, and our own soul, first of all;
if we save our own soul, We may be able to save the souls of
others, for no man can give what he does not have.

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"The beloved pilgrims have also come here to avail them-
selves of the riches offered them by the Jubilee; they have come
to the very source, to the heart of their ancient Mother. We are
well aware of the spirit with which this is being done, and with
what a great devotion! We thank you all, and with you We thank
the people who organized your pilgrimage, the priests who, after
preparing you for this pilgrimage, have also accompanied you,
with your Archbishop, the Cardinal, at the head of the pilgrimage,
to give a genuinely edifying example of pious devotion. We also
know that in your Jubilee devotions, you have not forgotten to
pray for Us, and We shall therefore pray for you in return.
"To all this you have added yet another act of piety: an act of
filial piety toward your common Father Who, in these days, has
grown older by one year, and Who is now celebrating the fiftieth
anniversary of his priesthood. You wished to take part in Our
Jubilee, and We are grateful to you for it.
"Great is our paternal joy as We see you all here before Us,
and just as We welcome you with a full heart, so shall We pray for
you, and with these sentiments We now impart our Apostolic Blessing
to all of you who have come all the way from the city of Turin to
Susa, from the valleys to the peaks of your native Alps. We pray
that the blessing of God descends on each and everyone of you,
on your Cardinal, on your Bishops, on your priests who work on
your behalf and who are comforted by your response. We bless
you for the success of those organizations and initiatives we know
prosper so well in your midst, your disciplined spirit, and your obe-
dience. May this blessing descend, also, on those whom you repre-
sent, and who are spiritually present, even though physically absent;
may it descend on all your holy resolutions, on the apostolate of
prayer, on the apostolate of good works and of a faithful and wor-
thy Christian conduct, and on the apostolate of good example. We
invoke the blessing of God likewise on your financial matters, on
your native region, cities and villages and on Our beloved Pied-
mont in general; and may this blessing remain always with you."
After his Apostolic Blessing and the distribution of a Jubilee medal to
all the pilgrims, the Holy Father left the hall, greeted by a renewed applause
and enthusiastic acclamations.

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
At the same hour, on the eve of the feast, the festivities of the Beati-
fication were anticipated in another form, in the Tiburtina district, on the
other side of Rome. The Josephine Fathers, who have their motherhouse
there, mindful of the relationship that existed between their founder, the
theologian Father Murialdo, and Don Bosco, the Founder of the Salesians,
rendered Don Bosco a special tribute. There was a distinguished gathering
of people, among whom were two Cardinals, the Salesian Hlond, and Since-
reo, of Piedmont, as well as several Italian and foreign Bishops, the Rector
Major of the Salesians, Father Philip Rinaldi, the whole General Council
of the Josephine Fathers, the Ambassadors to the Holy See from Brazil and
Nicaragua, Senator Borselli, Knight of the Collar ofthe Annunciation, three
Army generals, and many other outstanding personages. They all had come
to listen to an address commemorating Don Bosco and delivered by Coun-
tess Amalia Cappello, the wife of the above-mentioned Nicaraguan diplo-
mat. The speaker was a very cultured lady, well-known in Roman circles.
She easily and properly responded to the mandate assigned to her and to
the expectations ofher distinguished audience. This gesture of sincere, affec-
tionate fraternal solidarity on the part of the Josephine Fathers warranted
a special mention in these Memoirs.
DON BOSCO'S BEATIFICATION
At last there came the dawn of June 2nd. Already, from the early hours
of the morning, streams of people wended their way toward St. Peter's
Square, to make sure that they would find a place in the vast interior of
the Basilica. They were all guided by a single-minded desire to witness Don
Bosco' s exaltation. As they climbed the steps and entered the vestibule,
they looked up at a banner that was draped over the main entrance. It
depicted Don Bosco, carried in triumph by a number of his jubilant pupils,
as we have already described in these Biographical Memoirs. The Father
of Youth was shown sitting in an armchair, with the Piedmontese country-
side stretched in the background. Those who understood Latin read the
couplet which had the following meaning: Jubilant, and inspired by their
single-minded love, youths carry on their shoulders the priest, John Bosco,
and festively acclaim him. 3
Inside the immense Basilica, the crowd grew bigger minute by minute,
and two hours before the scheduled hour for the commencement of the
3 Sustollunt humeris festo clamore loannem Ludentes iuvenes, quos alit unus amor.

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ceremony, the reserved areas were already crowded to their limits. The diplo-
matic corps and civil authorities, together with other dignitaries, filled the
grandstands on either side of the apse. Located in other stands were the
members of the sovereign Order of Malta, Don Bosco's relatives, and the
Superiors of the Salesians and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.
Areas on either side of the church had been roped off, to accommodate the
Salesian pupils, boys and girls, members of the general pilgrimages, and
persons holding special tickets. Seats were set apart for a great number of
Archbishops and Bishops, among whom there were twelve Salesian prelates.
Wide draperies, with pictorial representations of the two miracles that had
been approved for Don Bosco' s Beatification,4 hung from two balconies
to the right and left of the great arch, beneath the cupola which crowns the
area between the Confession and the apse. At the far end of the majestic
apse, high above the Altar of the Chair, in the very center of the resplendent
golden crown of angels known as the Bernini's Gloria, a veil hid from the
anxious glances of the throng something which was evidently to be dis-
closed at an opportune moment.
Expectations intensified more and more as the time for the ceremony
grew near, and the crowd was barely able to control its impatience. Far atop
the grandstands where the group of Salesian Major Superiors were seated,
a venerable old man, the only survivor from the early days of the Oratory,
Father· John Baptist Francesia, while waiting, recalled a similar occasion,
though not as grand, and in that recollection one of his exuberant pre-
dictions came up, a prediction which was now about to come true. On a
far distant day in 1867, Father Francesia was to accompany Don Bosco to
attend a beatification ceremony in St. Peter's. As he passed on this news
to the Salesians at home in the Turin Oratory, in advance of what he was
about to do, he had written: "I'm to go and see something which, perhaps,
our great nephews will be able to witness being done to someone well-
known to us all. Although I would very much like to see this for myself,
I do not begrudge posterity this consolation. They will have the celebration
for this person, but we have him here in person now. For them events will
be past history; for us it will be history in the making, namely his actions
and works." God instead granted this incredible consolation to him, as
4 Both paintings had a caption underneath. The first read: "Domina Teresia Callegari laborans polyarthrite
acuta infectiva, cui graves alii morbidi accesserunt, opem famuli Dei /oannis Bosco. Institutoris Piae Societatis
Salesianae, fidentor invocat; illico et plene convalescit." The second read: "Soror Provina Negro invocato patro-
cinio Venerabilis famuli Dei /oannis Bosco, fandatoris Piae Societatis Salesianae, ab ulcere rotunda stomachi illico
ac perfecte sanatur."

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well. This is yet another sign of the general belief that Don Bosco was a
saint, a belief shared by everyone who had lived in his company for a
number of years, and who had witnessed daily what he had said and had
done.
When the clock struck ten, after the recitation of the None Hours, the
Canons of the Vatican Chapter, led by His Eminence, the Archpriest Cardi-
nal Merry del Val, moved in procession from the Julia Chapel, to take their
places in their choir stalls in the apse, on the Epistle side of the altar, while
the Cardinals of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, Laurenti, the Prefect,
Vannutelli, Granito Pignatelli di Belmonte, Frunwirt, Scapinelli di Legui-
no, Sincero, Cerretti, Hlond, Ehrle, and Verde, took their seats on the
Gospel side. The beloved figure of the amiable Cardinal Gamba was easily
distinguishable in the brilliant array ofpurple vestments, manifesting uncon-
cealed happiness. Prelates, Officers, and Consultors of the same Congre-
gation, and members of the Postulation, were seated in other grandstands.
When everyone was seated, Father Tomasetti, the Postulator of the
Cause, together with the Secretary of the Congregation of Rites, Bishop
Mariani, approached the Cardinal Prefect and handed His Eminence the
Apostolic Brief of the Beatification, requesting him to order its publication.
His Eminence bade him address his request to the Cardinal Archpriest, so
that he might give his permission for the papal document to be read in his
basilica. Once this faculty was granted, a Canon of the Vatican, Barnabei,
mounted a small podium which had been built in the sanctuary for this
purpose, and read aloud the Brief. In this Brief, following a rapid summary
of Don Bosco's life, works, heroic virtues, and miracles, the Supreme
Pontiff declared that his name was now to be registered among the Blessed.
The following is the translation of the Brief:
Wonderful is God in His Saints, who during their lives on this earth,
endeavor to promote the glory of the Lord and the eternal salvation of
Mankind; to them the God ofIsrael will give power and strength (Ps 57:36)
so that, fearing neither the obstacles of this world nor the presence of
hostile enemies, they may attain the holy goals they had sought, as has
happily happened to the pious founder of the Salesians, Father John Bosco.
The son of pious parents, he was born on August 16, 1815, in a small,
rural village near Castelnuovo d'Asti, and reborn the next day at the sacred
font. He was still a little child when his father died, and his early years at
home were difficult ones. His mother, who possessed outstanding virtues,
and who might well be presented as an exemplar for the education she gave
her children, taught her little son Christian doctrine. Already, at a tender

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age, John Bosco distinguished himself among the other children by his
piety, the purity of his behavior and the gentleness of his character. Al-
though a mere child, he was gifted with a keen intelligence and a remark-
able memory; this enabled him to repeat, with astonishing fidelity, all that
he had heard from the pastor or from other preachers, to people of his own
age. Anticipating what he was to do later on, he gathered around himself
those youngsters on Feast days. He used games to entertain them and was
eager to teach them their Catholic religion and how to pray to God and Our
Lady.
After he had received some basic instruction from the local chaplain,
he attended the public school of Castelnuovo, ten kilometers away from
his home, and later on, the public school of Chieri where he proved to be
a model pupil, even though for many years John Bosco was obliged to work
as a peasant in the fields, as a laborer, and even as a domestic servant, due
to the necessities of life.
At the age of seventeen, he donned the clerical cassock and entered
the archdiocesan Seminary of Chieri, with the help and advice of Saint
Cafasso, for whom he always felt great veneration and affection. In the
same seminary, he pursued the philosophical and theological studies with
success, and later when he was already a priest, he applied himself once
again and for more than three years, to the study of moral theology and
sacred eloquence in the 'Convitto Ecclesiastico' of St. Francis of Assisi in
Turin. At last, in 1841, he was ordained a priest in Turin on the eve of the
feast of the Holy Trinity, and with deep piety he privately celebrated his
first Mass in the Church of St. Francis of Assisi. It was not until the
following feast of Corpus Christi that he celebrated, with edifying devo-
tion, a solemn High Mass in the church of his native Castelnuovo, in the
presence of people who had come from his town and were deeply moved.
This young priest, who displayed a burning zeal for the welfare of souls
and great charity, worked as assistant to the pastor at Castelnuovo for a
period of five months. But the Spirit of God which moved within him,
providentially called him to cultivate a wider portion of God's Vineyard.
He enrolled at the Convitto Ecclesiastico of St. Francis of Assisi in Turin,
under the direction and guidance of Saint Cafasso, and zealously began to
direct his priestly ministry towards people in prison and people sick in the
hospitals. He began to hear confessions, to the great benefit of souls. In
everything that he said or did; he was constantly guided by his single-
minded purpose, the salvation of souls. He was following St. Francis de

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Sales whom he had chosen as his exemplar, when with admirable gentle-
ness and patience, he strove to lead all repentant sinners back to God. He
neglected nothing that might have furthered these two holy aspirations. He
studied German, and soon acquired sufficient knowledge of that language
to be able to hear the confessions of German soldiers. He had acquired
many and varied kinds of culture, in order to meet the needs of the common
people, especially of folks without any education, and he applied himself
with particular commitment to the study of apologetics and history.
Ever since this period, he was deeply attracted to remedying the con-
dition of children and young boys who grew up in the streets, far from God,
without any Christian education, entirely off the path of truth and justice.
Starting with the feast of the Immaculate Conception of 1841, for three
years Don Bosco gathered boys around him in the church of St. Francis
of Assisi in Turin, by using attractive activities and much patience. This
is how the first Oratory began, which the Servant of God called the Salesian
Oratory out of humility and devotion to St. Francis de Sales.
Very soon, obstacles of all kinds sprang up about him, which attempt-
ing to thwart the excellent work he had just begun. But the finger of God
was in that work. That first Oratory moved from its original base to the
church of St. Martin, then to that of St. Peter in Chains, and later to a house
known simply as Moretta' s house, until at last it found a shelter, in April
1846, in a building in the borough ofValdocco, which at that time was only
a suburb of Turin. Here, with the constant and manifest assistance of God
and of the Blessed Vrrgin, Don Bosco accomplished wonderful things. The
Archbishop of Turin, Louis Fransoni, endowed with timely faculties, the
Oratory, which continued to be dedicated to St. Francis of Sales, and King
Charles Albert took it under his protection.
Soon, more Oratories of the same kind were opened; the second, which
was dedicated to St. Aloysius, was founded in 1847; two years later, a third
Oratory was dedicated to the Guardian Angel. A few more years passed,
and then a fourth Oratory was begun, and dedicated to St. Joseph. For all
these Oratories the Servant of God conceived and applied a new system
for the education of children and young men. This new system was derived
from St. Philip Neri, and he now called it the preventive system.
In 1847, with the cooperation of his pious and strong-minded mother,
whom he had brought to Turin with him so that she might assist him in his
work, he founded in his own house, next to the Oratory the first Hospice
for young people who had been abandoned and were homeless, and who
needed a particular Christian education. From the holy, fertile seed of this

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first Hospice sprang all the later, innumerable schools and homes that are
now under the direction of the Salesian priests and the Sisters of Mary Help
of Christians. The Servant of God, as a matter of fact, advised by many
people, especially by St. Joseph Cafasso, and convinced by the very voice
of our predecessor Pius IX, first founded the Society of the Priests of St.
Francis of Sales and later on also the Congregation of the Daughters of
Mary Help of Christians. These Congregations were established to prevent
the demise of the work that he had initiated on behalf of youth.
The Society of Priests of St. Francis of Sales was initiated in 1858, and
grew day after day. It was praised and commended in 1864 by the Sacred
Congregation of Bishops and Regulars, in the name of the Apostolic See.
The Servant of God was appointed for life as its General Superior, or Rector
Major. He drew up Rules and Constitutions that were well-suited to the
times, and in 1874, five years after the Pious Society had been generally
confirmed, the Rules were approved by the above-mentioned Sacred Roman
Congregation.
In 1872, the Servant of God founded a second religious Congregation:
the Congregation of the Daughters or Sisters of Mary Help of Christians,
who, bound by the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, look after the
education of girls in the Salesian style.
John Bosco endured much suffering but courageously and readily he
faced the most difficult undertakings, and patiently bore with troubles and
ingratitude, in order to consolidate and expand these two Congregations
for priests and nuns.
But this was not enough for him. Constantly aiming at saving souls,
and indefatigable in his efforts to carry the torch of Christian truth and the
benefits of Christian civilization to uneducated peoples scattered through-
out the world, even up to inhospitable regions, Don Bosco also sent Mis-
sionaries to the remotest frontiers of South America. In order to provide
Missionaries for these lands, he opened a Seminary, commonly called the
Seminary of Valsalice, where the Missionaries would be prepared and
instructed.
Finally, to complete our survey of all the many foundations of this
Servant of God, we must recall the institution of the Pious Union of the
Salesian Cooperators, who help, in many different ways, the Salesian
undertakings, and the work of Mary Help of Christians, created to provide
ecclesiastical vocations, and the churches that he built with alms collected
from all sides. Among these churches, the Parish Basilica of the Sacred
Heart, in the district of Castro Pretorio in this holy city of ours, and the

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Turin, deserve a special mention. All
of these undertakings, which were planned by the Servant of God, not for
financial gain or to receive human accolades, but only for the glory of God
and the salvation of souls, were successfully carried out.
With admirable steadfastness, he cared for all the works that he had
undertaken until the time of his death. He gave a luminous example of
every virtue, of pure faith and Christian fortitude, of devotion to God and
to the Blessed Virgin. He provided an example of staunch allegiance in
calamitous times to the Roman Pontiff and the Apostolic See. Imbued with
the spirit of humility, he thought little of himself. He never asked anything
for himself, since he loved poverty. With an ever ready and indefatigable
spirit he sought the salvation of souls and carried out, with much prudence
and fore thought, on behalf of the Church, the most difficult and complex
tasks. He shunned the comforts of life and bequeathed, not only to his
pupils but also to all Christians, examples worthy of imitation, to the point
that they were rightly considered, even when he was alive, the examples
of a Saint. On January 31, 1888, he piously fell asleep in Our Lord. The
mortal remains of this Venerable Servant of God were first displayed in the
room where he breathed his last. Then they were clothed with priestly
vestments, and exhibited in the church of St. Francis of Sales, where the
solemn funeral rites were held and attended, with great devotion, by over
a hundred thousand people: Turin citizens, Piedmontese Bishops, Canons,
Pastors who had come from a distance, and a great number of Seminarians
from many places, even from French and Swiss dioceses.5
The Servant of God was laid to rest peacefully in the Missionary
Seminary of Valsalice, where the tomb is still visited by a constant stream
of pilgrims, drawn by the fame of the supernatural powers with which God
endowed him during his lifetime, and by the reputation of holiness which
surrounded his name.
Not only has this reputation of holiness never decreased, it has actually
grown so luminous, day after day, that the cause of his Beatification was
introduced with the Sacred Congregation of Rites, and Our predecessor of
happy memory, Pius X, signed with the Decree, published July 24, 1907,
the Commission for its Introduction. The proofs of the heroic virtues of the
Servant of God having been juridically collected and examined as our Rite
5 Here the account is somewhat confused. His remains were exposed to public view in the church of St.
Francis, but the funeral service was held in the church of Mary Help of Christians. Moreover, the hundred thousand
people, Turin citizens, and the others mentioned, attended his funeral procession, and not the funeral service in the
church.

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prescribes, We defined with a solemn Decree promulgated on February 20,
1927, the above-mentioned heroicity ofthe virtues of the Venerable Servant
of God John Bosco. Then the miracles allegedly wrought by God through
the intercession ofHis Servant were discussed; everything was investigated
with great care, and two of the many miracles attributed to his intercession
after his death were declared real and evident. With another Decree pub-
lished on March 19th of this current year, 1929, We declared with Our
supreme Authority, the truth thereof.
After the public pronouncements confirming the heroicity of his vir-
tues and the authenticity of his miracles, there remained but one more thing
to be discussed, that is, whether or not the Venerable Servant of God could
be listed with certitude among the Blessed. Such a question was proposed
by Our beloved son, Alexander Verde, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church,
before the General Congregation that assembled in Our presence on April
9th of the current year, and all those present, both Cardinals and Consultors
of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, replied unanimously in the affirmative.
Since this matter was of such great importance, We delayed Our own
judgment until We had had more time to pray and implore heavenly light
from God. We did this with great fervor, and finally, on the third Sunday
after Easter, after the celebration of the Divine Sacrifice, in the presence
of Our Beloved sons, Cardinal Laurenti, the Prefect of the Sacred Congre-
gation of Rites, and Alexander, Cardinal Verde, the Ponens for the Cause,
as well as Our other beloved son Angelo Mariani, Promoter of the Faith,
We declared by Our authority that it was to proceed with certitude towards
the Beatification of the Venerable Servant of God, Don John Bosco.
In view of this, and in fulfillment of the hopes of the whole Society
of the Priests of St. Francis of Sales and of the Sisters of the Congregation
of Mary Help of Christians, of all the Salesian Cooperators, and the pupils
of Salesian schools, in virtue of the Apostolic Authority and in accordance
with the present letters, We grant the faculty of henceforth calling 'Blessed'
the Venerable Servant of God John Bosco, a diocesan priest from Turin,
and that his body and his relics may now be exhibited publicly for venera-
tion by the faithful, though they may not be carried in solemn procession.
His pictures may also be adorned by a halo. Furthermore, by this same
Apostolic Authority, We hereby authorize the yearly recitation of the Office,
and the celebration of the Mass de Communi Confessorum non Ponti.ficum
in his honor with prayers approved by Us, in conformity with the regu-
lations of the Missal, and the Roman Breviary.

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
The recitation of the Office, and the celebration of the Mass above-
mentioned is hereby authorized by Us only for the Archdiocese of Turin,
where the Servant of God was born and where he died, and for those
chapels and churches located in every part of the world that are attended
by the Society ofthe Priests ofSt. Francis of Sales, and by the Congregation
of the Sisters or Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. As far as the Office,
it shall be recited by all those faithful who are obliged to recite the Canoni-
cal hours. In regard to the Mass, all priests, both secular and regular, may
celebrate it whenever they gather in churches where the feast of the Blessed
is celebrated.
Lastly, We grant authorization to celebrate the solemn Beatification of
the Venerable Servant of God, John Bosco, in the above churches, on days
to be determined within a year by the competent Authorities, servatis ser-
vandis, commencing from the date of the solemn celebration in the Patri-
archal Basilica of the Vatican; notwithstanding the Apostolic Constitutions,
Ordinances, and Decrees of non cultu, and all other dispositions.
Issued in Rome, at St. Peter's, under the seal of the Fisherman's Ring,
this second day ofJune, in the year 1929, the eighth year of Our pontificate.
P. Cardinal Gasparri
Secretary of State
A solemn moment followed the end of the reading of the Decree. All
stood and directed their gaze to the Hallowed Gloria by Bernini. At a given
signal, the veil that covered it fell, to reveal the newly Blessed One,
surrounded by a thousand lights. Countless were the lights shining through-
out the apse. A magnificent reliquary sparkled on the altar. At the sight of
Don Bosco, radiant in glory, the huge crowd could no longer restrain its
emotions, and burst into a loud applause, sounding like thunder beneath
the gigantic dome-shaped vaults.
When the unrestrained roar subsided, the continuous ringing of the
huge, silver-throated bells of St. Peter's could be heard from outside. The
festive pealing of bells spread rapidly from church to church, to inform the
whole Holy City that Don Bosco had been elevated to the honors of the
Blessed. On the 8th of the month, l'Osservatore Romano wrote: "Rarely
has the Vatican Basilica echoed with such explosive and enthusiastic joy
as that which burst spontaneously from all hearts at the sight of the new
portrait, a pale image of the jubilation of the Angels and of the just who
now gather around Blessed Don Bosco in a celestial glory, a glory to which
there is no end."

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Meanwhile, the celebrant had intoned the hymn of thanksgiving: Te
Deum laudamus! A unanimous outburst of faith, of joy, was released by
thousands of hearts as a response to his words: Te Dominum confitemur!
The hour of triumph had struck after so lengthy and so harrowing trials!
Lo and behold! That same Don Bosco who had at times been misunder-
stood, thwarted, opposed, who was constantly confronted with problems
of every description, that same Don Bosco was now radiant in a blaze of
shining lights and acclaimed with a hosanna that seemed to surpass all bound-
aries of space and time.
At the end of the Ambrosian hymn, the deacon intoned for the very
first time the words Ora pro nobis, Beate Joannes; the officiating celebrant,
Bishop Valbonesi, chanted the Oremus, and then incensed the relic and the
picture. Then he donned the sacred vestments and began the Pontifical
Mass, celebrated with that solemnity that is always admired in the Basilica
of the Prince of Apostles. The choir of the Julia Chapel, conducted by
Maestro Boezi, provided the music during the Mass. According to tradition,
the holy pictures and the lives of the Blessed were distributed generously.
When the Liturgical service ended past midday, streams of people poured
out of the exits, filled the vestibule, and formed one gigantic river of
humanity which flowed, like a torrent, through the one spacious exit into
the square. As a swollen river cascading down the wide steps, the crowds
flooded the square, and in a short time they were swaying like the sea tossed
by the wind.
An immense banner fluttered, in the breeze, above the crowd, in the
center of St. Peter's fa9ade. The pilgrims who had entered the Basilica in
the morning had failed to see the reason for it being there, since at that time
it had been concealed by a huge drape, which was removed as soon as the
priest intoned the Te Deum. Who could refrain from looking up at the
radiant painting, despite the fact that, all were in a hurry to get to their
lodgings? This is what the painting revealed: Don Bosco, with a radiant
halo, was ascending up to heaven! Three angels, with their wings spread
wide, were seen emerging from the clouds around him, as though to
accompany him,jubilantly, on his celestialjourney. At the bottom, on either
side of the banner, two churches were visible-the church of the Sacred
Heart in Rome, and that of Mary Help of Christians in Turin, and a sprig
of roses was about to fall on them. The hexameter, translated from the
Latin, reads: As you enter this temple, venerate Don John (Bosco) whom
Pius XI now reigning in the Holy City has admitted ritually to the list of
the Blessed. Pray for him, so that he may defend Youth from the Stygian

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
enemy, and protect the Italian people whom he brought back to Christ, to
whom they render due honor as to the immortal king. 6 The words reddita
Christo, or brought back to Christ, were an allusion to the Conciliation,
thanks to which, as the Pope had stated publicly, God was given back to
Italy, and Italy back to God.
On June 2nd, a larger crowd than ever before gathered at the school
of Valsalice. Among others, a great gathering of past pupils had assembled
there at the hour scheduled for the Beatification ceremony; they had been
unable to go to Rome for the solemn rites, either because they had been
prevented from doing so by business, or because they lacked money for
the journey. They attended a religious service, and for the first time, they
prayed to their great teacher, as to a Saint in heaven, invoking his inter-
cession. It was the hour during which the heavens of Turin, and that of all
the Archdiocese were echoing with the joyous symphony of pealing bells
which proclaimed that the Church had a new Blessed, Blessed Don Bosco.
There is a tradition that when there is a Beatification, in the afternoon
hours, the Pope descends from his chamber to the Basilica of St. Peter's
to venerate the new Blessed. Therefore, at four o'clock, only those persons
who held a special admission ticket were allowed to enter the Basilica. The
Chamberlain had had sixty thousand of these special tickets printed, but
they were all distributed during the previous days, and sadly, too many,
people, especially Romans, were left disappointed. The number of people
was countless, so much so that the gates had to be closed, barring access
to the immense sea of humanity that was actually entitled to enter. Protests
were vehement, and they reached the ears of the Chamberlain himself. He
personally went down to the Basilica of St. Peter's, to see if there was any
way by which access might be granted to the immense crowd standing
outside. A more rational distribution of seats made it possible to open the
doors once more, and admit a new avalanche of humanity into the Basilica.
By five o'clock in the afternoon, the interior of the Basilica resembled
that found only on great occasions. Not a single comer was vacant, and
only the area in the center of the church where the Pope was to pass, had
been kept free by a sturdy fence, and by the Palatine Guards. Every Italian
dialect, and nearly all the languages of Europe, could be heard in the babel
of voices.
6 Jngrediens templum Bosco venerare Joannem. Quem, Pius undecimus sancta regnator in urbe Rite Beat-
orum fastis adscripsit et ipsum Exora, ut Stygio tueatur ab hoste iuventam, Protegat Italicam gentem, quae reddita
Christo Huie immortali Regi det munia laudis.

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A sudden stir at the entrance told the crowd that the Pope was about
to enter, and instantly an impressive hush fell, while all heads turned in the
direction of the door.
A magnificent procession began to make its entrance slowly; it finished
with twenty-four Cardinals. The Pope, seated on the gestatorial chair as
though on a throne, could be seen coming through the main entrance, his
hand raised in the act of imparting a blessing. Silver trumpets from the
gallery above sounded Silveri's majestic papal march, filling the Basilica
with a mystical spirit of recollection. This lasted only for a moment, how-
ever, for the crowd, swept by a wave of enthusiasm, burst into frenzied
shouts, acclaiming the Pope of the Conciliation, the Pope who had glori-
fied Don Bosco. White handkerchiefs fluttered in salute above the sea of
faces as Pius XI advanced, his hand raised with a great gesture of blessing
in all directions. The Pope's face, majestic and fatherly, displayed deep
emotion.
When he noticed a poster raised over the heads of a cluster of boys and
the words written on it "Mother House of Don Bosco, Turin," the Pope
ordered a sudden stop and repeatedly blessed the boys; everyone was much
moved. He was surrounded by this wild applause up to the apse, and the
acclamation became even louder as the choir of the Julia Chapel chanted
the first notes of Tu es Petrus.
The Holy Father descended from the gestatorial chair, and knelt beside
the faldstool as the Blessed Sacrament was being exposed. He then rose,
advanced and took the thurible which the Cardinal Archpriest handed to
him, and incensed the Sacred Host; then he returned to his former place.
The choir now chanted lste Confessor, which was followed by the
prayer proper for Don Bosco, and the Tantum ergo. After the second
incensation, Bishop Correa, a Salesian of Cuyuba, Brazil, imparted the
triple Eucharistic blessing. It is the privilege of St. Peter's Chapte~ to
perform this Liturgical service both morning and evening, but at the request
of Father Francis Tomasetti, the Chapter agreed that a Salesian Prelate
should officiate at the evening ceremony.
When the Blessed Sacrament had been placed back into the tabernacle,
Fathers Philip Rinaldi and Francis Tomasetti approached the Holy Father,
to whom they offered an exquisite reliquary containing a fragment of Don
Bosco' s bones.7 Together with the reliquary, the Rector Major and the
7 This reliquary was a work sculptured by Prof. Galli. The upper part of the reliquary reproduced the
monument in honor of Don Bosco found in the Piazza Maria Ausiliatrice in Turin. It was made of embossed silver,
decorated with gilded metal, and it stood 47 centimeters high. The group was supported by a double base. The base

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Procurator General offered him ex more a bouquet of artificial flowers,
some holy pictures, and the Lives of Don Bosco. As the Holy Father
graciously accepted their gifts, he exchanged a few words with them, and
they introduced to him Count Thaon di Revel, Mayor of Turin, and Count
Rebaudengo, Senator of the realm, and President General of Salesian
Cooperators. His Holiness moved them all as he gave them his apostolic
blessing.
At the same time, according to formal custom, holy pictures and Lives
ofDon Bosco were distributed to the Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, and
Prelates who were present, and to members of the Diplomatic Corps, the
aristocracy, and other invited guests. There were three types of Lives
prescribed for the occasion.
A detailed Life in an elegantly bound edition was presented to impor-
tant guests; a second, sort of Life, more limited, was given to those who
were present; there was a third kind of Life containing major information,
for the general public. Bishop Salotti, the Promoter of the Faith, had written
the first and the most important of these Lives. Another life of Don Bosco
had been written in French by a Salesian priest, Father Auffray, for the
occasion. It was highly recommended, and is still widely read today.
The Pope now returned to the gestatorial chair, which was carried
through the Basilica. He was greeted by renewed and vigorous applause,
while the silver trumpets played the traditional marches once more. The
people who filled the portico gave him a rousing ovation as soon as he
appeared on the threshold of the Basilica, and their shouts were echoed by
the bigger crowd gathered on the steps outside.
At the sight of the throng, the Pope stood up; he solemnly raised his
right hand and blessed the faithful inside and outside the Basilica. When
he came to the Bernini staircase, he stepped down from the gestatorial
chair, greeted the Cardinals, and went back to his chambers.
As soon as the crowd left the Basilica of St. Peter's and joined the
thousands who filled every access to the immense square, attention was
on the first level was square-shaped and on it were plates of embossed silver reproducing the Turin Basilica of Mary
Help of Christians and the Roman Basilica of the Sacred Heart. On either side, there were two groups, one of boys
with a Salesian, the other a group of girls with a Sister of Mary Help of Christians. The base on the second level
had plates reproducing the Coat of Arms of Pius XI and the Coat of Arms of the Salesian Society surrounded by
Heads of Seraphim and garlands of Lilies (symbol of purity), Roses (symbol of chastity) and branches of oak tree
(symbol of fortitude). The whole thing had the shape of an unfinished pyramid. The monument also reproduced the
house where Don Bosco was born, and the scene mentioned in Don Rosco's first dream. There were Seraphim with
thuribles added to the decorations, and also an inscription commemorating Don Bosco's Beatification. On the front
face of the reliquary was a small, oval cavity containing the case with the relic.

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focused on the agile actions of the renowned "Sampietrini," as the atten-
dants in St. Peter's Basilica were affectionately known. Three hundred and
fifty of them now appeared scattered across the fa~ade, and on the dome.
It was getting dark, and those extremely nimble men, overcoming diffi-
culties never imagined by the spectators, kept themselves ready to illumine
the entire Basilica.
This operation is performed in two separate phases. First of all, five
thousand lamps light the straight, architectonic lines of the facade, the sides
of the dome, and the colonnades, tracing a distinct, architectural profile of
the massive building. Michelangelo's cupola looks as though it were about
to leave the earth and soar high into the heavens; later, at a given signal
at a quarter to nine P.M., the Sampietrini, standing ready at their assigned
places, each light a torch, whose flame is concealed by an iron case, and
as the bell strikes exactly nine P.M., the Head of the Sampietrini's atop the
Basilica's dome, lights his torch; immediately after, the Sampietrini's, with
amazing rapidity, expose all the torches. In less than ten minutes the whole
basilica is ablaze with four hundred flickering torchlights, making the huge
structure glow in a vibrating golden haze. The cupola changes aspect and
resembles a gigantic, incandescent triple crown, flowing into a royal mantle,
star-spangled with flames, in glittering splendor. From the Piazza and from
all the elevated sections of the city, pilgrims and citizens enjoyed watching
enthusiastically the magnificent sight, far into the night. These glorious
days could not have ended on a more exquisitely Roman note. 0 Roma
Felix! [O happy Rome!]
St. Peter's Basilica is not usually illuminated this way at a Beatifi-
cation. This is reserved only for canonizations. But the Salesians had been
eager to request this illumination in honor of their beloved Father and
Founder, and the Holy Father was so kind as to agree gladly. This change
might have created an embarrassing situation. That year, June 2nd fell on
the first Sunday of the month. This is the day set aside to celebrate the
Commemoration of the Italian Constitution. It is always distinguished, in
Rome by a magnificent display of fireworks, called Girandola, from the
Pincio terrace; Romans love it very much.
Father Francis Tomasetti hastily informed the Governor of the city,
Prince Boncompagni, who immediately gave orders that the popular tradi-
tion was to be postponed until the following Sunday. His command was
greeted by a unanimous approval. Signs of the Times!

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At any rate, Don Bosco's Beatification had met with a most genuine
endorsement, not only by the working classes, but also by the aristocrats
and in government circles as well.8
When all the celebrations were completed, even at the Vatican people
were saying that never before had a Beatification witnessed such splendor.
Even the Holy Father expressed amazement over what he had seen in St.
Peter's Basilica. The Pope foresaw what was going to happen and so he
did not descend to the Basilica and enter by the small entrance door at the
Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Rather, he decided to enter in the most solemn
way possible: through the portico.9 La Civilita Cattolica summed up its
own impressions with the following words: "The honors of the altar,
decreed by Pius XI for the Founder of the Pious Society, gave rise to
impressive demonstrations of faith which, because of the great number of
pilgrims who came to Rome from all parts of Italy and from all countries
of the world, and due to the general, fervent enthusiasm, have never before
been matched, except by the celebrations related to the canonization of St.
Teresa of the Child Jesus." 10
EVENTS THAT HAPPENED AFTER DON BOSCO'S
BEATIFICATION
The Holy Father made known his own impression the following morning,
both to Father Philip Rinaldi and to the members of the Salesian Superior
Chapter, at a special audience. They had gone to see the Pope to thank him
for three things: for the special benevolence shown by him towards the
Salesian Society, for his fatherly participation in every phase of the Cause,
and for the great significance he had wanted to give to the celebrations.
His Holiness was pleased to notice how the ceremony had been carried out,
remarking that rarely before had they had to face the embarrassing problem
of having insufficient room available, in spite of the fact that the Basilica
was so huge. He added that the vast crowd of people, who acclaimed Don
Bosco and the Pope, had abundantly shown how close in spirit they felt
to Don Bosco' s name, his person, and his apostolate. He said that he was
deeply touched by these manifestations of faith and jubilation, and added
that he had been told that during the Beatification ceremonies, several new-
born infants had been brought to the font in St. Peter's Basilica for baptism
8 Father Tomasetti's letter to Father Rinaldi. Rome, May 22, 1929.
9 Father Tomasetti's letter to Father Rinaldi, June 11, 1929.
10 Issue of July 6, 1929, p. 75.

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and were given the name of the newly Blessed. He also said that he was
particularly gratified by the orderliness and precision with which the various
phases of the ritual had been carried out, notwithstanding the great number
of participants. He also had words of praise for the civil authorities who
had done an excellent job in keeping order as the people entered the Basilica,
and insuring that everyone enjoyed the superb spectacle of the illumina-
tions without any incidents. The Pope's concluding words were: "Don Bosco' s
Beatification will always be memorable in the annals of the Church, and
of the Salesian Society." Then Father Philip Rinaldi offered His Holiness
the commemorative medal coined in gold, silver, and bronze; the front car-
ried the picture of Don Bosco, and the back, the scene of Don Bosco's first
dream.
The Postulators of other Congregations, especially the Jesuits, were
struck by what the Pope himself had commended-namely the orderly
proceedings, despite the great movement of people, and wanted to know
how the Salesians had managed to do it. The truth of the matter is that
despite careful preparations and keen vigilance, a considerable number of
admission tickets had disappeared. This was discovered at the last minute,
and, if it had not been for the excellent organization, this would certainly
have created a great deal of trouble. Instead, not only was there no disorder,
but it was possible to conceal the matter, so that only the people responsible
for the organization were aware of it.
The crowning point of the celebration was the afternoon audience of
July 29, 1929, that the press described as "wonderful." Twelve thousand
people filled the courtyard of St. Damasus. The papal throne was mounted
on a very large podium at the far end of the courtyard, and in front of it
there was a barrier which allowed a few yards of free space. The rest of
the courtyard was occupied by three sizable groups. The center was taken
by the boys coming from the various schools of Italy and foreign countries.
The left side was filled with girls from the schools of the Sisters of Mary
Help of Christians. The right side was reserved for the Cooperators.
Cardinal Peter Gasparri, the Secretary of State, and also Protector of
the Salesian Congregation, took his place next to the papal throne, together
with their Eminences Hlond, and Vidal y Barraquer, the Archbishop of
Tarragona. There were also thirty Bishops on the podium, together with
Father Philip Rinaldi, the members ofthe Salesian Superior Chapter, Father
John Baptist Francesia, and the Senator, Count Rebaudengo. The unoccu-
pied space in front was filled by Salesians and special delegations.

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The excitement of so many young people charged the air with some-
thing akin to electricity, and it whetted everybody's impatient expectation.
Suddenly, a thunderous, unending roar of applause hailed the appearance
ofthe Pope. The Noble Guards preceded him and the Prelates and the Gentle-
men of his noble Antechamber surrounded him. The Pope smiled, waving
his hand in response to the tumultuous greeting. He looked delighted to
see all the jubilant young people, and then he took his seat on the throne.
In the meantime, a small incident occurred which we would like to
report. Several Salesian schools had brought along their bands, and as they
entered the Courtyard, their trumpets blared. This caused a problem for the
Director of the Palantine band, which was expected to strike up the Ponti-
fical hymn as soon as the Pope appeared. A few minutes before the entrance
of the Holy Father, the Salesian Superiors had successfully silenced their
bands. But there was a sudden hitch, after all. Just as the Pope appeared,
and the Palantine band director was about to give his musicians the down-
beat, another band, which had arrived late, struck up a march as it entered
the Courtyard.
The band director, whose hand was already raised and holding his
baton up in the air, lost his patience and exploded. On his way to the throne,
the Pope noticed it, and turning to the band director whispered "Bear with
them, Maestro; this is a Festive Oratory."
When the roar of the crowd and the last notes of the hymn had died
down, the Schola Cantorum from the Sacred Heart Hospice, conducted by
the choirmaster, Father Antolisei, sang the Acclamationes in honor of the
Pope, according to the ancient Liturgy. This was followed by Oremus pro
Pontifice, intoned by the Salesian Seminarians from the International Theo-
logical Institute of Turin. Two hundred of them had journeyed to Rome.
Finally, all the boys burst into a Salesian hymn, which had never before
been sung with such vigor. The Pope listened to it and was obviously
pleased.
When the singing ceased, the Rector Major walked up to the throne,
to read the following address.
"Most Blessed Father:
"The entire Salesian Family is full ofjoy and exultation, close to their
Founding Father, raised to the honors of the Altar and whose relics have
been venerated by you, Most Holy Father.
"Many are the delegations of Salesians, Sisters of Mary Help of Chris-
tians, ofpast pupils, of Cooperators, and of admirers of Blessed Don Bosco,
who have come to enjoy this august, unforgettable feast, and together with

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me, they now enjoy the good fortune to stand before Your Holiness, and
affirm once again, unanimously, the filial bonds of affection that link them
to your August Person.
"They have come here from all sides, even from distant, inhospitable
missionary territories, drawn here by the tender love they have cherished
for our Blessed Father, since their early youth. I feel that it is proper for
me to single out the presence of a few of the very first sons who were
eyewitnesses, since you yourself, Your Holiness, 'in a vision which was
not short, in a conversation which was not momentary,' had a keen insight
to the fascination our Blessed had used to create his first apostles and send
them forth to conquer souls. These venerable senior members of the Sale-
sian Family who have seen with their eyes and almost touched with their
own hands Don Bosco' s sanctity are here with us today to applaud the
official proclamation of his paternal sanctity which, has always been the
inspiring flame of their apostolate.
"As Your Holiness so accurately described it, this affection for our
Father 'continues to make sure that he is not just a far-away Father, but
still is the Director of everything, an Author ever present and ever active,
with the perennial vitality of his norms, of his methods and above all with
his example.'
"Most Blessed Father, if for more than 42 years we have gone ahead
with the assurance, confirmed by events, that Don Bosco continued to be
our Director, our Author, the Father of the Salesians, we will still go ahead
even more, since now, Your Holiness, with the sovereign act of your
apostolic power, you have presented him to us crowned with the halo of
the Blessed, as a model and as the protector of our spiritual life and of our
educative mission.
"For our part, with the help of Heaven, we shall do our best not to be
unworthy of him. 'With his calmness always ruling and always reigning
supreme, with the work which for him had become effective prayer,' Our
Blessed Don Bosco will make sure that ever with us the magnificent
building up of the Christian education of youth, started by and founded on
benevolent and patient charity, will still go on, the way it should. Only such
divine charity can educate, that is, construct in the souls of the young, the
inalienable heritage of the Holy Church, namely the supernatural virtues
that create holiness here on earth, before it shines eternal in the splendor
of God's Saints. Caritas aedificat!
"This resolution, this prayer to Blessed Don Bosco, Most Blessed
Father, sums up all our gratitude, our heartfelt thanks, for your paternal

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benevolence towards us, the least of your sons. Of this benevolence of
yours we have shining proofs in the moving allocutions delivered on
Blessed John Bosco, and in this solemn Beatification, intended to be united,
as a precious gem, to the festivities of your golden priestly jubilee.
"This day, which is so dear to the heart of Your Holiness, is dear also
to each of Don Bosco' s sons, who strive to commemorate it worthily with
their prayers, their charity, and with their actions. The numerous repre-
sentatives of the Salesian Family here present at the feet of Your Holiness
prove it, and through me they want to raise to your august throne their
sincere good wishes and hopes that God may keep you Ad multos annos
[for many years], for the well-being of the Church.
"In conclusion, each of us here today makes his own the feelings of
self- surrender, devotion, reverence, and filial love that Blessed Don Bosco
cherished for the Vicar of Jesus Christ, and each will retain an indelible
remembrance of this pleasant hour, as well as of the ineffable goodness of
Your Holiness from whom all now await still one more very special
blessing, for themselves, for the boys entrusted to their care, for the good
works they still plan to do, and for all the people who have asked to be
recommended for a special blessing from you, Holy Father.
"Holy Father, bless us all, once more, and consider us always as your
most humble sons, very much devoted to your Sacred Person, and always
ready to obey your orders or your wishes."
The Pope sat absorbed in meditation for a moment, then said: "Praise
be Jesus Christ!" to which everyone present in the Courtyard responded:
"Now and forever!" Whereupon the Pope began his address:
"This Courtyard of St. Damasus can rightly be called famous through-
out the world. It has witnessed many a touching, solemn, and glorious hour,
even if We only count the few hours which Divine Providence allowed Us
to enjoy here, especially during the Holy Year, and on some other occa-
sions. Yet rarely did it occur to Us to see and contemplate what We see and
contemplate today: such a great crowd, such a diverse crowd of chosen
sons of the Pope and of the Church, such a glory and such a joy stemming
from real charity, such a burst of filial piety, so many demonstrations of
faith, of true love for the Church, for the Vicar of Christ, the Father of all
souls, the Common Father of all the Faithful. All this is happening because
of a name, a name that is already illustrious and glorious throughout the
world, because of the name of Father John Bosco; all this is happening

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because of a name, joined to a glory, which is no longer only an earthly,
a world-wide glory, but a heavenly and eternal glory; the name of Blessed
John Bosco. (Applause)
"You certainly know, and almost all those who are present here should
know, with what sort of participation, both of heart and spirit, We share
your joy and your jubilation. The reason is, (as We have said many a time,
always with great comfort to Ourselves), that We not only are among the
great number of his admirers, but by God's grace, We were also personally
acquainted with him; We were among the great number of those who
received tokens of his benevolence, and even of his fatherly friendship, a
friendship such as could exist between a glorious veteran of the priesthood
and of the Catholic apostolate, and a young priest who was really young
at that time, but has now grown old, as you well know, for you came here
to comfort him with your demonstrations of filial devotion (enthusiastic
applause).
"We are grateful to you, beloved children, for We know that you have
participated in Our priestly jubilee, not only with your applause, which is
always welcome, but in a far more important way, with your prayers, for
which We are particularly grateful. As We reminisce on things long past,
We are especially gratified to see gathered around Us the veterans among
the pupils of Don Bosco, the workers of those first hours which were
always the most difficult, the most fraught with problems, when it was a
question of plowing new furrows, of wresting the first fruits from a soil
which had not yet been explored and, of starting its cultivation. Honor to
you, veteran soldiers of the Salesian Congregation, to you, early com-
panions of Blessed John Bosco!
"Welcome to you all who have come here from all parts of the world,
to bring greater glory and splendor, to enhance the first celebrations in
honor of your, rather, our glorious Blessed Don Bosco. By the grace of
God, We were able to elevate him to the honor of the Altar, as a sign for
all people to see. You came here from all parts of the world to pay him
homage, a homage that is rarely so universal at a Beatification, as We saw
being paid to him in the splendor of St. Peter's Basilica, in the Vatican. Not
only were We delighted to elevate him to the honors of the Altar, and to
see him enhanced by your presence, but We have to say that you also
sweetened and intensified Our awareness of that universal fatherhood
which Divine Providence wanted in its Divine goodness and in its inscru-
table designs to be provided for Our poor heart. Never as in these moments,

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when We see around us so many souls richly endowed with Christian
charity such as yours, when We see souls come from all the parts of the
world, never as in these moments have We experienced so vividly this
awareness of Our role as Father of all the faithful, of all the great Catholic
family. You represent this family so fruitfully, in such a wonderful way and
so worthily, that merely your presence here would render a very eloquent
testimony to the merits of Blessed John Bosco, and to the fertility, the
inestimable value, of his undertakings.
"When We think that you, Salesian priests and sisters, boys, girls, past
pupils, Cooperators, Bishops, Prelates and Cardinals who are gathered
here, only represent, and in a limited measure, all the many, many others
whom We can visualize thronging behind you, above you, and all around
you, like in a mighty, apocalyptic vision, Our heart is enraptured with
admiration and exaltation. How many are Don Bosco' s sons, and how
many those others who now collaborate in his undertakings? Even ifl were
to count them, now, I know that they would number thousands and thou-
sands: some seven or eight thousand Salesians, some eight or nine thousand
good Sisters of Mary Help of Christians! And how many Salesian pupils
are there? We shall answer this last question only by repeating the answer
the Rector Major gave Us when We asked him to give Us an estimate of
the present total of Salesian pupils. He replied modestly that he had no idea,
and was therefore unable to give Us a number. What a wonderful example
of modesty, and yet let Us say what a proud statement, too, (a hearty
applause), for what the good priest really meant to say was that there are
so many of them that not even the Salesians themselves have any idea just
how many there are!
"Beloved sons, We congratulate all of you: no matter what assignment
you hold, what office or rank you have, however humble it may be, in this
mighty family, in this mighty army, in this powerful concordance of good-
ness and truth. When We think about the value of an individual's Christian
education, a Christian education as envisaged by Don Bosco--deeply,
completely, exquisitely Christian and Catholic-when We think about this
treasure multiplied by people who can multiply so abundantly, We expe-
rience a truly joyous exultation and gratitude to God Who knows how to
create such works and keep them alive in this world, in this wretched world,
where the attacks of evil against all that is good, against Christian truth,
go on relentlessly.
"Beloved children, We congratulate each and every one of you, together
with the whole Salesian Family. In this retrospection, in this comforting

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acknowledgment of a past so fertile in goodness, We find solid assurance
of an even more resplendent future, richer than before in the spiritual trea-
sures: in the treasures of God's glory, in the treasures of the consolidation
and the extension of Christ's Kingdom, in the treasures of salvation and
sanctification of souls, in the treasures of honor and glory for the Holy
Church, the bride of Jesus Christ. Beloved children, We could not voice
a more paternally affectionate wish than this, at this hour when your work
is brightened by responses so beautiful, so admirable, so gloriously filled
with divine light by God's infinite Mercy, when We were allowed to raise
to the honor of the Altar Our Don Bosco, and to lift up a fold of that golden
veil that conceals the splendor of Heaven from mortal eyes. That veil was
lifted in an attempt to reveal on earth, in an even visible manner, just a little
of that immense glory with which Don Bosco is now surrounded in Heaven,
as a just and fitting reward for his immense merits.
"Heavenly glory must be imitated by earthly glory, and you came here
to make sure that this reproduction would come about through the expres-
sion of that worldwide veneration that led hundreds of thousands of souls
everywhere to pray with you to Blessed Don Bosco. Yet you must under-
stand that the genuine glory of Don Bosco in this world lies in your hands;
it depends on you. The words that We utter are not Our own, but they are
the words of God: Gloria patris.filii sapientes [Wise children are the glory
of their Father]. Your Father will be glorified with the finest glory that
humanly speaking can be given to him, if you will be the wise sons of such
a Father, if you will be able to know, as you do now, and as hopefully you
will be able to understand in the future and even in a better way, Don
Bosco' s spirit, the spirit of his work; if you will be able to continue his
work with his spirit, ever and ever better, just as he desired, without
measuring the amount of work needed, without measuring the amount of
dedication needed, but instead, without measuring the amount of unself-
ishness demanded of him as a person, as far as it contributed to the good
of souls. We feel We almost see him as We say all this. We still remember
what he used to say is a glorious ideal to live up to: anyone who doesn't
know how to work is not a Salesian. We Ourselves still recall the beautiful
words that he uttered to Us as he was looking to the future with the
intuitiveness of a genius-when we congratulated him on having seen so
many marvelous things in his houses, in his workshops, in his classrooms,
and mind you, it was not a question of stressing what was good in itself,
but only the structure within which the good could emerge, a structure
which he followed with the certitude produced by successful inspiration.

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As you well know, when obliged to speak about himself he always did so
in the third person, and when We thus congratulated him, he answered:
'Whenever the mighty cause of goodness is involved, Don Bosco wishes
to be at the vanguard of progress, at all times.'
"These words, which We have heard from your Father's lips, We think
best to leave for you as a souvenir, as a fruit, as a plan of work, as the most
beautiful and practical conclusion of this magnificent hour that you have
provided for Us. When it's a question of doing good, a question of searching
for truth, for the honor of God, of the Church, of the Kingdom of Jesus
Christ, when it's a question of the salvation of souls, always forge ahead,
in the vanguard of progress! This will be your watchword, and it should
always spur you on to advance courageously along the pathways opened
up before you by the words, the exhortations and the examples, and now
by the intercession of Blessed John Bosco.
"It is within this magnificent vision of the past, and this foreseen future
that We impart OurApostolic Blessing to you. We impart all those blessings
that you have come to ask of your Father at such a beautiful moment; all
the blessings that your excellent spokesman requested on your behalf for
each individual spiritual family; all the blessings which, at this moment,
We impart gladly to each and everyone of you, both young and old, and
to all people and all the things dear to your hearts: people, institutions,
undertakings, aspirations, houses, schools, missions, all that you hold dear
in your minds, and in your hearts, and want to be blessed. May Our fatherly
blessing descend on all these things and remain forever."
Once he finished speaking, the Holy Father rose to his feet, to impart
the blessing. The vast assembly, almost ecstatic, could barely check its emo-
tion; yet it recollected itself in an attitude of pious devotion; but at the
words maneat semper [and remain forever] everyone erupted into an enthu-
siastic outburst of applause that reached the sky. With his retinue, the Pope
advanced to the edge of the platform, and walked along it, waving his hand
repeatedly as a gesture of greeting, while the shouts of the younger specta-
tors increased in volume. This outburst of joy did not abate until the Pope
had retired to his chambers. "This could be described as the pilgrimage
of all pilgrimages!" l 'Osservatore Romano wrote on June 5th: "What a magni-
ficent sight! "
Two days later, a much smaller audience, also worthy of attention, was
granted to the two hundred seminarians mentioned above, and the two hun-
dred and fifty pupils from the Mother House of Valdocco. The seminarians,
standing in line in the Clementina Hall, intoned Oremus pro Pontifice as

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soon as His Holiness entered. As he walked, the Pope held out his hand
to be kissed. Then he passed into the Consistory Hall where the pupils were
assembled. He greeted them, too, and was gratified by a gift of several
artistically bound books on the various methods used in the Salesian technical-
professional schools. Among them there was a book entitled"/ soggiorni
Del Beato Don Bosco a Roma" ["The Sojourn of Blessed Don Bosco in
Rome"] by the Director of the Oratory, Father Rotolo.
As soon as the Pope sat on the throne, one of the boys read aloud the
following speech in a high-pitched and clear voice:
"Most Blessed Father:
"With hearts overflowing with holy enthusiasm, two hundred and fifty
of us have come to Rome, to represent worthily all of the seven hundred
pupils of the Mother House of the Salesians and of the Oratory of St.
Francis of Sales in Turin, the earliest foundation of our beloved Father,
Blessed John Bosco. Next to the deep gratitude and devotion with which
our hearts are full today, we place at the feet of Your Holiness the enthu-
siasm that we have long fostered in our hearts, while following, with
affectionate anxiety, the different phases of the Apostolic Process for Don
Bosco's Cause, especially those phases that were completed, at last, by the
solemn and gracious utterance of Your Holiness.
"Most Blessed Father, we are happy to render this tribute to you here
in the astounding majesty of the Vatican palaces, after having enjoyed the
inestimable honor of being present last Sunday in St. Peter's Basilica. As
you passed us by in St. Peter's Basilica, with all the intense power of our
young hearts, we strove to send the sincere homage of our faith, of our filial
obedience and of our great love soaring up to Jesus Whom you, Your
Holiness, represent here on earth.
"We left the Turin Oratory with the echoes of pleasing and poetic
memories ringing in our ears, as we recalled the fact that some forty-six
years ago you, too, Most Blessed Father, spent some days at the same
Oratory. We know that you deem yourself fortunate to have had the oppor-
tunity to converse familiarly with our newly blessed Father and Founder,
and that you still retain warm and tender recollections of it. How many
tender recollections are associated with the name ofDon Bosco, the faithful
servant of the Supreme Pontiff, of the Roman See, the Apostle of devotion
to the Pope! The Oratory, which, within a few days, is going to welcome
the return of its Founder in glory, repeats for all to hear the miraculous
events it has witnessed from its earliest beginnings.

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''As early as 1847, over five hundred boys gathered around Don Bosco,
and shouted enthusiastically: Long live the Pope! Thus they dashed the
hopes of a handful ofevil-minded sectarians. With this gesture they showed
all the reverence forever due to the dignity of the Pope. In 1849, at the
invitation of Don Bosco, the Oratory boys deemed themselves honored to
show their veneration for the Head of the Church and made a collection,
which amounted to 33 lire, and thus they deprived themselves of neces-
sities. The money was given to the Peter's Pence collection, to alleviate
the dire poverty of Pius IX, who was then living in exile at Gaeta. The
money reached the Pope, together with the warm sentiments of devotion
of the Oratory boys. Beset as he was by so much grief, the Pope was deeply
touched by the affectionate, concrete offering of the Oratory boys, and
together with his thanks he sent each of his young helpers rosary beads,
as a gift. As we have come to understand by reading his life story, Don
Bosco always encouraged such actions, in order to instill more effectively
a feeling of love and devotion towards the Pope in the generation of boys
who were the object of his personal care from 1841 to 1888.
"The teachings that Don Bosco bequeathed to and were practiced by
the Salesians are still handed down to us at the Mother House of Valdocco,
through our Superiors and teachers. We are willing to respond to them
dutifully, and to prove that we are worthy successors of all the boys who
creditably attended the Oratory before our time.
"Here in your presence, Most Blessed Father, we now declare, on
behalf of all our companions, our deep love, our unswerving attachment
to the Vicar of Jesus Christ. But on this occasion we are not satisfied by
only expressing this commitment of ours We want first of all to express
to Your Holiness our heartfelt thanks; these are the thanks of thousands and
thousands of Don Bosco' s young sons now scattered all around the world,
thanks which expresses their deep gratitude to Your Holiness for having
elevated him to the honors of the Altar. Thank you! It is only right that these
thanks should be uttered by the Oratory boys of Turin, who alone will have
the good fortune, nine days from now, to be the closest of all to Don Bosco.
"Most Blessed Father, we thank you, as well, for your paternal good-
ness in granting us this audience, which we will never forget. Thank you!
"With these feelings in our hearts, it is a precious privilege to kneel
down now to receive the blessing that Your Holiness will affectionately
impart to us. We are sure that it will call down upon us, upon all our
companions at the Mother House, and upon all the pupils of other Salesian
schools, an abundant shower of heavenly graces, which will enable us to

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persevere enthusiastically in doing good to all and to be steadfast in that
faith that will help us to be always sons of Don Bosco, whom we now hail
among the Blessed.
"Your Holiness:
"Kindly extend this blessing to our dear parents, to our beloved Supe-
riors, and especially to our Father Director who has accompanied us here;
bless our studies and our work. May this blessing be abundant for each of
us individually, and for all persons that are dear to us; may it endure through-
out our whole lifetime. May it be rich in grace, tender in the paternal love
that Jesus felt for children, and that Your Holiness, imitating the Divine
Model, feels and demonstrates so wondrously."
Once the boy finished his reading, the Pope addressed these paternal,
gracious words to all who had gathered therein.
"Beloved sons of Don Bosco, and our sons!
"We have gratefully appreciated your singing and your applause because
they reveal your deep filial love for Our Person. But most of all, We find
your presence very pleasant. You did not want to leave the Eternal City
without seeing your Father once again; I assure you that your Father, too,
wished very much to see his dear and good children again before they left.
"We are very happy to see you here again, because We see Don Bosco
once more, not only in the majestic picture which We saw sparklingly
radiant in St. Peter's Basilica, amid the mighty setting of souls and of
prayers on that day of your and our Don Bosco's glorification, but also on
the occasion when We addressed the great Salesian Family assembled in
the courtyard of St. Damasus. But We now see him once again in you who
are his chosen ones.
"We see him once again in you, who are the theology students of today
and the priests of tomorrow; We see him in you who are the spiritual
representatives of the Salesian family-that immense army made up of
Sisters of Mary Help of Christians, of pupils, of Cooperators; We see him
once again in you, future priests, the hopes of many souls who await
anxiously from your lips the word of truth, the Divine word of the gospel.
"We see him once again in you, dear young folks and children beloved
of Our predecessors, and who are also dear to Us, just as you were to Don
Bosco who loved the souls of children as Our Lord Jesus Christ did. You
certainly know that the souls of the littlest ones are those Our Lord Jesus
Christ loved the most-and We assure you that you are such also for
us-you, 0 Most Dear Children ofthe Mother House, you who are the buds
of the first plants cultivated by Don Bosco with such a solicitous care.

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Before We bless you all, We wish to say only a few words to both groups,
which will fall on fertile soil, and you will help them bear fruit, as your
Father, Blessed Don Bosco, has taught you.
"A word to you, theology students and sons of Don Bosco, Salesian
students of theology. You are theology students; therefore, do study the-
ology with diligence. Theology is the science of God, towards Whom you
must lead many souls. Salesian theology students, this is the word that I
direct to you: work always, but never neglect prayer, meditation, and the
spirit of piety. Without these means, no one can work successfully for the
glory of God. No matter how perfectly contrived, how shining, or how
powerful a machine is, it cannot function without a driving force to supply
the essential impetus which enables the machine to run smoothly; prayer
and meditation must supply this for you; herein lies the secret that will
assist you, so that your work may bear fruits of holiness.
"Remember that fruits produced with much commotion, but without
the right intention and God's grace, are not fruits that please God. There-
fore, do love theology, and make sure it leads you to live lives of sincere
piety; pray to the Lord that He may help you direct your study of theology
toward such sentiments. Then you will share Our own ideal. Do love the-
ology, and make sure that your study of theology has a wide, deep, effica-
cious, ascetical aspiration. May your theology be based on and inspired by
an ascetic aspiration; may your study of ascetic theology be theologically
inspired.
"Now an even more tender and paternal word for you, dear boys. We
would like to say that while We had the joy and satisfaction of glorifying
Don Bosco, of elevating him to the honor of the Altars, it is now your task
to glorify him and pay fitting honor to him here on earth. The Pope has
thought about the heavenly glory of Don Bosco; now the sons of Don
Bosco must provide for his temporal honor: Honor patris, filius sapiens [a
wise son is the glory of his Father]. But your wisdom must be made evident
by your spirit, by what you say, and by what you do, by every act of your
Christian life, and by your social relationships, by your virtuous conduct,
by your exemplary conversations, and in all the circumstances of your life.
Then truly will you be wise sons, and your Father will be glorified both
in you and by you.
"We wish to add one more word. All of you must be profoundly aware
of who you are: Filii sanctorum sumus [we are sons of saints] says the
Sacred Writer, and these words describe exactly the sons of the Church,
the sons of the great Catholic family. We would like you, the Salesian army,

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to be ever aware of these words, since reflection on the Father's saintliness
renders saintly and nobly proud the hearts of the sons.
"You have heard these words in the climate ofjoy and of splendor that
surrounded the glorification of Don Bosco, and We hope that Our words
will help to have them more deeply etched in your hearts.
"You are the sons of a Saint; therefore it is your duty to prove your-
selves worthy of so great an honor, at all times. Beloved children, this will
help you direct your thoughts, your desires, and your aspirations toward
the sublime, toward all that is true and good; if you do this, your Blessed
Father will be pleased with you, and everywhere people will recognize you
for what you are, and they will say that Blessed Don Bosco is glorified in
the wisdom of his sons.
"We now impart Our Apostolic Blessing on all your intentions, so that
it may help you attain these noble goals of yours; We impart the Apostolic
Blessing which is to be extended to all of your intentions; We impart it to
the Salesians, their pupils, the past pupils, your schools, and the Missions,
and everything that you may carry with you now, or that may have in your
thoughts."
Everybody knelt to receive the blessing of the Pope, and applause
broke out anew as he left the Hall, followed by the eager, enthusiastic gaze
of those brave youths.
The Salesian Superiors were seriously thinking about emphasizing the
Roman celebrations with an enterprise that might serve for future genera-
tions as a lasting memorial of the glorious event. They had already been
working on a project that now served this purpose ideally. During a period
of twenty years, a new borough ofRome had been established. It was located
between Tor Pignattara and Via Appia Nuova, and had a steadily growing
population. Already in 1920, the Salesians had bought a piece of land in
the neighborhood of Via Tusculana, measuring 35,000 square meters, with
the intention of building spacious workshops and a professional training
school for some three hundred boarders, with the addition of other buildings
for a Festive Oratory and an after-work center. Additionally, there were
plans to build a stately church, dedicated to Mary Help of Christians and
large enough to accommodate at least six thousand persons, in order to
provide for the spiritual needs of the growing population. A Salesian archi-
tect, Julius Valotti, had already prepared the plans in April 1928, and on
May 12th of the following year, the plans were submitted to the Holy Father
on his name day, with the understanding that the Salesians wished to name
the school after him, as a devout homage to honor his forthcoming priestly

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jubilee. The Pope was touched by this filial gesture, and seemed very inter-
ested in the plan. He carefully examined the layout of the school, and he
stopped and looked at the project of the church with delight, but since the
Salesians had planned to build the church only later, the Pope urged them
to start right away. Thus, as soon as the beatification of Don Bosco became
certain and seemed imminent, the Salesian Superiors decided that even though
work on the first wing of the school had not been completed, they would
include the cornerstone ceremony for the new church in their program of
festivities for the august event, and would consider the entire project as a
tribute to the Pope who was to beatify Don Bosco.
When Father Fidelis Giraudi submitted the plans, the Pope voiced yet
one more wish: he said that the church ought to be bigger, for by now it
seemed quite certain (and this was subsequently confirmed by statistics)
that the population would grow considerably in that area. To encourage the
project, he even offered a million lire, nor did he limit his munificent
assistance to this contribution alone, since he offered another sum, equal
in amount, to be paid in installments later.
The sacred rite was performed with solemnity during the afternoon of
June 4th, while the Salesians of the Sacred Heart Basilica were com-
mencing the great triduum, is traditionally celebrated in the Eternal City
in honor of those recently beatified. A clear blue Roman sky enhanced the
hauntingly beautiful ceremony, which was rendered more impressive than
usual, by a magnificent display: five Cardinals: Pompili, Hlond, Cerreti,
Lauri and Gamba, several Bishops, many civil and ecclesiastical authori-
ties, and a huge international crowd made up of priests, Religious, Sisters
of Mary Help of Christians, Cooperators, and past pupils, in considerable
numbers, from various Salesian schools: almost entirely occupied the vast
area about the scaffolding supporting the travertine block marking where
the new church was to be built. After a march played by the band, Father
Philip Rinaldi explained to the gathering the reasons why Salesians were
rendering such homage to the Pope now happily reigning. When he had
finished speaking, the Vicar of His Holiness, Cardinal Pompili, blessed the
block of stone, which was then lowered into the vast excavation in the
ground, after the first shovel of lime had been poured over it.
A leaden box, containing a parchment and some medals, had been
placed inside the hollow cavity of the stone. The parchment contained the
declaration: During the reign ofPius XI, in the year ofhis priestly golden
jubilee, while Victor Emanuel III reigned as King of Italy, and Benito
Mussolini was Duce of the Italians in the 7th year of the Fascist Era, in

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151
the year in which JOHN BOSCO, Father and Legislator of the Salesians,
was inscribed among the Blessed; the Rector Major ofthe Salesian Society,
Father Philip Rinaldi, in order to perpetuate the memory ofsuch a glorious
event, in this new borough of Rome, ordered under the auspices and the
name this very Pontiff, the commencement of the Church, dedicated to
Mary Help of Christians, and of the great professional school ofartisans,
Cardinal Vicar, Basil Pompili, according to the proper rite, blessed this
cornerstone, on June 4, 1929.
The officiating Cardinal said a few words at the end of the ceremony,
and then the guests toured the area already built. The buildings covered an
area seven times as large as the entire Hospice of the Sacred Heart.
We mentioned the triduum at the Church of the Sacred Heart; that was
the first solemn tribute of veneration rendered to Don Bosco after his
Beatification. Two prelates: Bishops Salotti and Olivares, as well as Cardi-
nal Gamba, sang Don Bosco' s praises. A number of priests, both secular
and regular, came to the Sacred Heart Church to celebrate the Mass of the
Blessed. A steady flow of visitors continued uninterruptedly from morning
until night. The services were magnificent, the church ablaze with light and
crowded with faithful. Outdoor displays, such as resplendent illuminations
at night, concerts by various Salesian bands, and songs and hymns sung
by the boys, delighted the throngs who hastened to share the happiness of
Don Bosco's sons.
The triduum was followed by the feast of the Sacred Heart, which was
celebrated immediately after the triduum ended. It seemed as if the Sacred
Heart of Jesus wished to honor the man who had done so much and suffered
so much for His glory, as already has been described in Don Bosco' s
Biographic Memoirs. Still another outstanding event coincided with this
solemn occasion. At eleven o'clock in the morning of June 7th, the Lateran
Pact of February 11th was ratified by both parties at the Vatican. It was to
become effective the instant that the clocks struck noon. We are happy to
think that the Sacred Heart of our Redeemer, Who is Lord over all hearts
and over all human events, must have presided at this historic ceremony
which fulfilled one of Don Bosco's most cherished hopes-the Concili-
ation between the Holy See and the Italian state.
The solemnity of the Sacred Heart did not abruptly end the tide of
Roman faithful eager to venerate Don Bosco in the church that he himself
had built. A characteristic feature was noted during the course of the
triduum and in the following days: the frequent reception of the sacra-
ments. Confessions were heard in every comer of the church, and at

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practically every hour of the day, and Communions were administered
almost without interruption. This is a distinguishing feature conspicuous
at the celebrations held everywhere, in Italy and abroad. Certainly, nothing
would have been more appropriate to honor Don Bosco and more perfectly
conformable with the spirit of his apostolate, exercised always with a view
to promote that practice, one we would call, Sacramental.
We have not yet said anything about the musical performances. It
would be unforgivable were we to overlook them, for music did so much
to enhance the joy of the occasion, and music does play such an important
role in all Salesian festivities. With the cooperation of some of the finest
singers from other Roman churches, the Schola Cantorum of the Hospice
of the Sacred Heart was far superior to all the other choirs and was directed
by a Salesian, Father Antolisei. This worthy musician also directed some
of his own compositions. Musical connoisseurs praised his Mass for eight
voices very highly, when it was performed on the first day of the triduum.
They admired its beautiful, melodic inspiration, the superb technique,
which was akin to the style of Palestrina, and the rich variety of musical
effects obtained. Seventy soprano and contralto voices and eighty tenor and
bass voices from the Schola Cantorum of the Turin Oratory joined with
Father Antolisei' s singers in a moving, fraternal performance conducted by
our own Maestro Dogliani, on the 5th of the month.
Two hundred and sixty singers sang the Missa Brevis for four voices
by Palestrina. Everyone who had the good fortune to be present at the
performance was entranced by the majestic, sweeping, harmony of the
chords. But the finest Mass of all was sung on the third day: this was
Palestrina's Missa Assumpta est for six voices. It was composed for sopra-
nos, contraltos, tenors, and basses. In this composition, Palestrina's poly-
phonic tonal pattern borders on the miraculous; the ear is astonished, yet
enchanted every moment, by fresh inspired themes of new beauty. The
conductor used the choral group to reveal clearly and distinctly the most
secret and sparkling wonders of that masterpiece.
Compositions by Meluzzi, Antolisei, Dogliani, and other well-known
composers were performed at morning and evening services during the
triduum. The choir also sang Antolisei' s Te Deum for four voices on the
last day of the triduum.
On the evening of the 7th, the pilgrims who had come to Rome for Don
Bosco' s Beatification began to wend their way home. We shall soon meet
with them again in Turin.

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(!!qupter 9
The Translation of Don Bosco's Body
At this point, any poet of an ancient era would have invoked his Muse
as follows: "Sing to me, 0 Divine One, of the hero's return, of the vast
crowds that made way for him, of the mighty army that escorted him, and
of the captain who led his march." But now the epic trumpet yields its place
to the pen of a chronicle writer.
The custom of transferring the bodies of Saints from one place to another,
in procession, and with great religious solemnity, is as old as the Church.
We need only recall the solemn translation of the remains of the bones of
Bishop St. Ignatius, who died a martyr's death in Rome, to his native town
ofAntioch. Moroni's well-knownDizionario di erudizione storico--ecclesiastica
[Dictionary ofEcclesiastical-Historical Erudition] under the heading TRANS-
LATION OF THE REUCS OF THE SAINTS, and under other headings as
well, describes in detail some extraordinary processions that have accom-
panied such translations at different times, and the eager and religious par-
ticipation of the masses. How many translations of Saints' bodies does the
Roman Martyrology record as events ofthe utmost importance! There have
always been two things that have enhanced the splendor of the celebrations
of these rites: veneration for the Servants of God, and the miracles wrought
at their tombs. The Church encourages this pious custom for reasons that
were expressed very specifically in a sacred announcement made by Cardi-
nal Odescalchi, the Vicar of Pope Gregory XVI, on August 4, 1838, at the
time ofthe translation ofthe Roman martyr, St. Bonosa, and to which announce-
ment the above-mentioned author refers. These reasons are: to render honor
to God by exalting His Saints, to reawaken in the minds of the faithful the
virtues of the Saints, to rekindle in all people the desire to imitate their
examples and to inspire confidence in their intercession.
In the case of Don Bosco, all these reasons acted very powerfully and
desired effects were obtained. Many of the things which occurred during
the first few months of 1929, were only advance indications of the extraor-
dinary participation of the people of Turin, in the ceremony of translation.
Yet what actually took place surpassed by far all expectations. Fortunately,
the preparations were not to prove inadequate to the actual requirements
of the event.

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GENERAL PREPARATIONS
First of all, the date for the solemn event had to be communicated on
time, and the basic guidelines of the program had to be made public. The
Rector Major, Father Philip Rinaldi, did this by means of a circular letter
dated April 4th and sent to all the Diocesan Directors, Decurions, and
Supporters of the Pious Union of the Cooperators. He told them that he
"was now able to announce that the event which had been awaited for so
many years, and had been hastened by the hopes and prayers of so many
souls" was now to take place. He instructed the addressees to extend an
invitation to all members of the Pious Union, asking them to go to Rome
on June 2nd, and to be in Turin on the 9th. Then he described what was
to take place in Rome. In reference to Turin, he announced the translation
of Don Bosco's mortal remains from Valsalice to the Basilica of Mary Help
of Christians, a preparatory triduum in the same Basilica, and the ceremony
of the laying of the cornerstone for a new Missionary House.
The second matter to be arranged in Turin, more than had been required
in Rome, was an adequate organization. Rome is able to absorb crowds,
since people tend to find their way around that city on their own, and are
able to satisfy their basic needs. The immense size of St. Peter's Basilica
and Square afford the opportunity to all to find a place, either inside the
Church or outside it. But in a provincial city, even though it is as large as
Turin, everything must be arranged, if enormous crowds of visitors are not
to mill about in hopeless confusion, and mass events are to take place
without any disorder. Father Philip Rinaldi had at his disposal the very man
to handle such a job, a man endowed with great foresight, energy, and a
cool head, all features needed to handle gigantic movements of people!
This man was Father Peter Ricaldone, the Prefect General. He was put in
charge of the preparations and supervision of their execution. He is the one
from whom all the instructions for everything originated, as we will shortly
describe.
The first thing Father did was to appoint two committees: an Honorary
one, and an organizational committee. The Crown Prince of Italy gra-
ciously consented to become chairman of the Honorary Committee for
men, and was assisted by seven other Princes of the House of Savoy and
by the Cardinal Archbishop; there were seventy-six honorary members,
namely people bearing well-known names among the nobility, ecclesias-
tics, and civil dignitaries, officials of high rank, Senators, Members of
Parliament, famous men of letters, scientists, industrialists, and financiers.

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Five Princesses of the House of Savoy graced the Honorary Committee for
women and acted as chairladies, together, with one hundred and fifty
associate ladies of the aristocracy, and the Bourgeoisie. With this arrange-
ment, the best among the citizens viewed the great event not simply as
passive spectators, but with an awareness that they were playing an active
role in it. So many names, as a matter of fact, did not indicate a kind of
purely passive participation, but willingness to cooperate, with their
authority, and their influence and even with personal action.
While these acceptances were collected, the general Organizational
Committee was hard at work under the direction of Father Peter Ricaldone.
This organizational committee was made up of Salesians, and it was sub-
divided into six subcommittees, to which the following tasks were respec-
tively assigned: 1. Pilgrimages, lodgings, transportation. 2. Exhumation,
recomposition, veneration of the mortal remains of Don Bosco. 3. Reli-
gious services. 4. Translation of the body. 5. Publicity, press. 6. Radio
broadcasts, information, photos, cinematographic coverage.
Sections of resident past-pupils of the Oratory were at the service of
the six subcommittees, to help arrange for the welcoming of and the
accommodations for their Italian and foreign colleagues. They also handled
correspondence with the presidents representing past pupils in every coun-
try. Since the Diocesan Council of Turin had scheduled the regional con-
vention for all Catholic Youth for June 9th, the services rendered by the
past pupils of the Oratory proved very helpful in making the necessary
arrangements for this.
Every subcommittee had its own chairman. The Prefect General was
the immediate head of the fourth subcommittee, which was assigned to the
coordination of the procession accompanying the solemn translation. The
close cooperation between the various subcommittees was so successful
that no one, either in Rome or Turin, could have asked for anything better.
We have already reported enough about Rome. We have also reported
sufficiently on the task entrusted to the second subcommittee, so we will
now turn our attention to all the rest.
SPECIAL PREPARATIONS
One of the major preoccupations was related to the pilgrimages, which,
as it was announced, would be many. Where were lodgings to be found for
so many people, and how were they to be cared for? The first subcommittee,
whose chairman was Father Anthony Candela, a Counsellor General, was

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
inspired to contact the Piedmontese Chapter of the Fascist Camp organi-
zation, which responded to the request with the utmost willingness. This
Fascist organization took direct charge of the entire mass movement, and
this ensured unity of direction.
With this endorsement, and with the assistance of the Mayor, Count
Rhaon di Revel, the Fascist organization found accommodations in school
gymnasiums for all the youth coming from Salesian schools; it then set up
an immense parking facility in the Stadium, where there was plenty of
room, plus security for every kind of vehicle at a modest fee: motorcars,
trucks, motorcycles, buses, coaches, carts, etc. The Fascist organization
also set up three pavilions where cold food and drinks were served to all
comers. Then it searched for and made a list of rooms available in private
houses and hotels that would be available from June 8th to 13th. Father
Anthony Candela took personal care to find suitable accommodations for
the Italian and foreign Bishops, in parish rectories, religious houses, or
private households. The people of Turin rose to the occasion with an
admirable civic spirit. All the available space that the Salesian Houses in
Turin could muster was reserved for the Cardinals, Bishops, Provincial
Superiors, and delegates who were accompanying the latter to attend the
forthcoming General Chapter of the Pious Society.
Father Peter Ricaldone had prepared a price list for room and board
in the hotels of the city, and he had it sent, together with forms, to the
leaders of the different pilgrimages, asking them to complete the form. He
also provided exact, detailed information which was useful to eliminate,
or at least decrease as much as possible, unforeseen difficulties.
All this accumulated data was helpful to the General Direction of
Railways, in coordinating train schedules. A fare discount of fifty percent
had been granted, even to pilgrims traveling individually. The Director of
the Railways Department worked with great zeal; to make sure that every
station in Turin could cope adequately with a rapid, continuous train ser-
vice, and by facilitating train arrivals and departures. Temporary platforms
were built, and new lines were opened to carry extra trains. The National
Transportation Association issued orders that for a five-day period, no
consignments of certain goods were to be accepted for Turin. Even the
municipal Trolley Car Company and a private railway company also took
very opportune steps to this end.
The Salesians expected substantial support from the city newspapers,
with which the fifth subcommittee was concerned. Father Peter Ricaldone

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took advantage of a suitable occasion to arrange a meeting of press cor-
respondents at the Oratory. We were about to inaugurate the new buildings
destined for Periodicals. Nothing could have been more natural than to
invite the Turin press to a reception. Many journalists attended, so Father
Peter Ricaldone was able to acquaint them with the plans of the celebra-
tions, and introduce them to the members of the fifth subcommittee, who
gave them all the information they needed. Continuing in this direction the
fifth subcommittee was able to communicate with the most important daily
newspapers, both Italian and foreign, and enable the journalists to keep the
public informed in detail of the greatness and saintliness of Don Bosco,
with interesting accounts of all the celebrations staged in his honor.
Under the direction of the Catechist General, Father Tirone, the third
subcommittee also had much to do. The influx of foreign priests and the
presence of so many Bishops required altars, vestments, and sacred vessels
in great quantity. Thousands of faithful would wish to go to Holy Com-
munion, and so extraordinary arrangements had to be made for an expe-
ditious and easy administration of the Sacraments. There was to be a
sequence of wondrous ceremonies in the Basilica of Mary Help of Chris-
tians during the triduum, and their success depended on a fitting prepa-
ration. Among other things, a musical program was arranged, so rich and
varied that in order to carry it out properly, repeated and concentrated
rehearsals were indispensable.
As far as vestments, the most important were those to be used at Ponti-
fical celebrations. Some forty religious, involving Sisters, novices, and postu-
lants of the Congregation of Mary Help of Christians, had been working
for a period of two years on these vestments. These were to be a magni-
ficent homage to the Blessed Founder: there were six copes, a chasuble,
four dalmatics, three stoles, three maniples, a humeral veil, a veil for the
chalice, and another for the ciborium, two bourses for the corporals, a canopy
and an ante-pendium.
The magnificently embroidered designs on rich cloth revealed a tech-
nical workmanship of artistry beyond all praise. The excellent designs and
their workmanship vied with each other. Every minute detail was done with
painstaking care. Certain little flowers, certain small leaves, certain spiral
rings, required a full day's work, and patient attention. Some of these
diminutive details on a cope numbered in the hundreds. Some twenty kilos
of gold thread had gone into the making of these vestments. This certainly
is a worthy monument to remind posterity about the filial devotion the
Salesian Sisters had towards their wonderful Father.

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The third committee was also in charge of the decorations of the
church, and worked so hard at it that, when everything was done, devoted
habitues of the Basilica were unable to recognize it.
The gigantic canvas representing Don Bosco in his glory, which had
been displayed in St. Peter's, now dominated the main altar, on either side
of which hung the great canvases depicting two miracles. These three
paintings had been sent to Turin from Rome.
The sixth subcommittee made all the arrangements for a sound P.A.
System that would relay to the public filling the playgrounds of the Oratory,
the square in front of the church, and the length of Corso Regina Marghe-
rita, the music performed, the psalms sung, the sermons delivered, and the
prayers offered inside the Basilica. This was something quite new at reli-
gious events, and later it was copied elsewhere. The same subcommittee
also procured equipment for photographic documentation, and cinemato-
graphic reproduction of the more significant highlights of the translation.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE PROCESSION
The biggest task of all was entrusted to the fourth subcommittee, which
was to make arrangements for the procession that would accompany the
mortal remains of Blessed Don Bosco from Valsalice to Valdocco. To draw
a majestic plan was not going to be enough to respond to what was
universally expected. The execution of that grand plan had to be made
possible and absolutely certain. Father Peter Ricaldone devoted much of
his personal attention to these plans, and appointed as his assistants men
well-qualified to supervise the work.
First of all, he began to study at length the route for the procession, and
sought the approval of local authorities. Then he moved to working out the
way the procession had to be controlled. He held several rehearsals with
groups of boys from the Oratory, to help him ascertain how many people
should march abreast, and determine the pace at which the procession should
march. These repeated rehearsals proved all the more essential as word
kept coming in that additional people wanted to take part in the procession.
The initial estimate of sixty thousand people later increased to one hundred
thousand, and still proved short of what happened. Father Peter Ricaldone
had made a list of eighteen different groups, each group to be led by a
Salesian priest possessed of genuine qualifications for leadership.
Once he had made an estimate of the number of people that would form
each group, Father Peter Ricaldone instructed his assistants to marshal two

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159
hundred volunteers from among the past pupils, fathers of families asso-
ciated with, and the boys of, the Festive Oratories. Professionals, students,
and blue-collar workers alike, all offered their services eagerly, and sacri-
ficed many hours of their leisure time to attend meetings. They were called
'regulators' and the group leaders set them into different squadrons, in
numbers proportionate to the estimated total that would form the unit to
which they were assigned. Some well-known priests offered their services
to the Cardinals and Bishops, and some members of the aristocracy prom-
ised to supervise the protocol necessary for visitors of high rank.
Now that the overall plan had been drawn up, Father Peter Ricaldone
chose the places along the route where the different groups were to join
the procession on the way out to Valsalice and on the return. A printed
booklet gave a detailed outline of the final order of march, and provided
instructions to ensure calm, plus an orderly execution ofthe different move-
ments that were to be made. Father Peter Ricaldone also described what
was to occur along the procession. He drew up a timetable for the assembly
of different groups; he indicated places that were to be sealed off, or cleared
of traffic, and the different hours at which this was to be done. He specified
the number of policemen he would need at different stations along the route
in order to control the crowd or to facilitate the groups' linking up with
the procession. Topographic charts were added to the pamphlet, and they
indicated the itinerary ofthe procession and the various concentration points
before and after the translation of Don Bosco's remains. Badges, armbands,
identity cards, free passes, special tickets-Father Peter Ricaldone had antici-
pated everything, and saw to it that it was made ready, and distributed at
the opportune time.
He did not forget to make arrangements for the necessary medical assis-
tance. At the Fascist Camp Organization Headquarters, a group of Health
officers met. They examined the situation, and made preparations to set up
twenty-one First Aid Stations. Besides a supply of the basic medical equip-
ment, each station had to be manned by a doctor, a nurse, and militia of
the Health Department. Additionally, the Militia mobilized three one hun-
dred men battalions of Black Shirts who were to work under orders of the
officers of the Medical units.
To reassure the authorities, Father Peter Ricaldone presented for approval
the projected movement plans, and they all praised them unstintingly. The
Crown Prince, who had promised to attend the grand demonstration, like-
wise asked to see the scheduled plans, and expressed great admiration for
the perfection with which everything had been prearranged.

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The fifth subcommittee had announced a competition for a hymn to
be sung during the procession. It chose the lyrics written by Father Secun-
dus Rastello. They were put to music by Father Michael Gregorio. The two
Salesians had been genuinely successful, for both the lyrics and the music
had a popular flavor ideally attuned to the occasion. 1 The fifth subcom-
mittee also approved for publication a handsome Itineraryfor a sightseeing
trip by trolley car, and a brief Guide to the City of Turin, prefaced by Don
Bosco' s picture, and a biographic sketch of his life.
Father Peter Ricaldone also approved plans for a display of fireworks
that had been suggested by the Battagliotti business firm, to grace the
evening of the feast.
The press brought news of all these preparations to the public's atten-
tion and created high expectations in the city. Ecclesiastical and civil
authorities were unanimous in agreement on all points, for both were eager
to render a triumphal tribute to Don Bosco. Religious and patriotic asso-
ciations vied with one another in offering contributions. Princes and Prin-
cesses of the House of Savoy joined the populace, going to Valsalice to bow
before the casket that contained the mortal remains of the humble Turinese
priest.
Immediately after the festivities in Rome, excitement had spread from
Valsalice and Valdocco to every district of the city, and on the eve of June
9th, the whole city of Turin was a-throb for its beloved Don Bosco.
JUNE 9, 1929
June 9, 1929, was an historic date for Turin. Already in the early hours
of the morning, the city was literally invaded. People clogged the streets.
At brief intervals the railway stations were filled with pilgrims. Special
trains and trains with extra cars started to roll into Turin at five o'clock in
the morning, discharging delegations of visitors, some accompanied by
bands, and frequently carrying flags. Tables had been set up under tem-
porary sheds, with special employees, in the two main railroad stations of
Porta Nuova and Porta Susa, to provide extra help, and to stamp tickets.
Railway personnel headquarters claimed that over fifty thousand passen-
gers had passed through the two stations by noontime.
In the meantime, Valsalice was preparing to say the last goodbye to
the sacred remains that it had guarded, with so much veneration and love,
for a period of forty-one years. During the night of June 8th, the mortal
1 fl Momento (an Italian Newspaper) reported on it very beautifully (see App. Doc. 14).

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remains had been removed from the Hall where we left them, some time
ago; they had been dressed in sacred vestments, surrounded with flowers
and brought to the House chapel, where they were never left alone.
Standing in front of the glass casket, Father Philip Rinaldi said a few
words, recalling how the body had left the church of Mary Help of Chris-
tians in 1888, while many people wept, yet rightly foresaw the jubilation
that would welcome it one day, on its return to the Basilica. The Salesians
of the House took turns as they kept watch by the body all through the night.
In the morning, Father Philip Rinaldi celebrated Blessed Don Bosco's
Mass, attended by the Superiors, the young seminarians, and the high
school pupils, all surrounded by a good number of past pupils. Later, the
Salesian Cardinal, His Eminence Hlond, held a Solemn Pontifical Service.
The general public was granted access to this solemn Mass, after which
the Archbishop of Naples, Cardinal Ascalesi, paid tribute to Don Bosco's
glorious remains. In a gracious gesture of devotion, he stopped to gather
up some roses which were scattered around the glass casket, and distributed
them to the people who were standing near him, and who accepted them
gratefully.
Other prelates, too, inspired by their piety went to pay devoted tribute
to Don Bosco's remains; the Archbishop of Genoa was among them.
Toward noon the school closed its doors to the public, as pupils from
Salesian schools outside Turin began to arrive and gather in the playground.
The entire Hospice of Sampierdarena was there, from the Director down
to the doorkeeper. The boys entered in festive groups, led by their teachers,
with waving banners, and strains of music played by bands. Father Fidelis
Giraudi, who had been in charge of everything that happened at Valsalice,
ever since the final procedures of identification of the body, now invited
everyone to a luncheon which was honored by the presence of His Emi-
nence Cardinal Hlond, several Salesian Bishops, and the Danish author,
Jorgensen, who recently had published a biography of Don Bosco. During
the repast, every cheer, every round of applause, ended with the enthu-
siastic acclamation of Don Bosco' s name. Surely no other salute would
have been more appropriate to honor the man who, throughout his life, had
charmed all youngsters, than all this youthful merriment.
By one o'clock the streets of the city teemed with people. Sections of
the eighteen different groups which were to march in the procession began
to make their way toward their respective meeting stations, while the rest
of the crowd milled about, looking for some vantage point where they
could stand and watch the procession.

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By two-thirty P.M. all the groups were ready. The moment came to
begin one of the most religious manifestations ever staged in Turin, and
perhaps a ceremony that only rarely occurred elsewhere. At this junction
we cannot go any further in our account, without first pausing to give you
an idea of the way the groups were set up and gradually joined in this
procession.
THE PROCESSION IN ITS PREPARATION STAGES
The road that extends from Valsalice to the river Po was the obligatory
route to be followed by the procession. The river Po had to be crossed at
once by the Umberto Bridge, which is encountered by those who come
down from Valsalice. Beyond the Umberto Bridge, the itinerary leading all
the way to Valdocco had to be planned in order to allow the eighteen groups
to line up easily one after the other. The itinerary could not have been better
mapped out than it actually was. From the point of departure to the arrival
point there were two focal sites, Piazza Vittorio Veneto and Piazza Castello
respectively; both of these, we could say, were central locations, the first
in view of the vast multitude assembled, and the second because of the
kinds of the groups waiting to join the procession at Piazza Vittorio. There
were eight groups suitably situated and lined up in such a way as to be able
to move without getting in one another's way. The following was their
arrangement:
1st Group: The band of the Salesian House of San Benigno; The Ora-
tories of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians from
Turin; the Children of Mary; The Orphans from Sassi; the
Gymnastics Teams from the Oratory boarding schools of
Turin; The Uniformed Members of the Association "Maria
Mazzarello"; the Sisters' Past Pupils.
2nd Group: The Band from the Salesian Oratory of Monterosa; the Sale-
sian Boys of the Oratories of Turin: Crocetta, Monterosa, St.
Paul's; the Band from the Salesian Oratory of St. Paul;
Valsalice-Martinetto; St. Aloysius Gonzaga, and St. Francis
of Sales; Delegations of the rural schools of Piedmont.
3rd Group: The "Excelsior" musical Group; The National Association
of the 'Piccole ltaliane'; the Band from the FIAT Workers'
Recreational Club; the National Association of Giovani Itali-
ane.
4th Group: The Band from the "Lancia's" Sports Club; the National
Association of the 'Balilla'; the Band from the Bonafous
School; the 'Avanguardisti'.

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5th Group: The 'Pietro Micca' Band; the Sodalities and the boarding
schools of the Sisters; Educational Institutes of Turin; the
Band from the Young Apprentice School; the Turin Boys'
Institutions, and Schools; the Delegations from Turin
Middle Schools; the Institute of Our Lady of Consolation;
Technical schools of St. Charles.
6th Group: The Band from the Salesian "Martinetto" School; the Dele-
gations from the Salesian schools of Turin: Martinetto, St.
John's, the Oratory of St. Francis of Sales.
7th Group: The Band from Aglie; Piedmontese schools, and Oratories
of the Sisters of Mary Help of Christians (following in
alphabetical order of the towns they came from); the Band
from the Missionary Institute of Foglizzo.
8th Group: The Band from the Salesian Oratory of Asti; the Salesian
schools, and the Salesian Oratories of Piedmont (following
in alphabetical order of the towns they came from); Band
from the Salesian school of Novara.
On the left side of the Po River, the Via Diaz and Corso Cairoli are
located between Piazza Vittorio and the Umberto Bridge, and here the
following groups waited to join in the procession.
9th Group: The Band from the Oratory of Fossano; the Union of Catho-
lic Girls; the Union of Catholic Women; the Band from the
Oratory of Saluggia; the Catholic Youth Association; the
Union of Catholic Men; the "G. Agnesi" University Club;
the "Cesare Balbo" University Club; the Diocesan Council;
the "Don Bosco" Band.
10th Group: The Band from the Missionary School oflvrea; Delegations
of Salesian Cooperators, and Dames of Mary Help of Chris-
tians; Delegations of Past Pupils of Don Bosco, of the Sale-
sian Cooperators, of Past Pupils from Cottolengo Institute,
Brothers of the Christian Schools, and from the Conferences
of St. Vincent de Paul; a delegation from Crevaria and of Our
Lady of Providence.
11th Group: The Band from the Salesian School of Milan; Delegations
from Italian, and foreign Schools of the Daughters of Mary
Help of Christians (following the alphabetical order of the
places they came from); the Band from the Salesian School
of Parma; Delegations from Salesian schools from Italy and
abroad (in alphabetical order of the places they came from).

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In the ninth group, consisting of "Catholic Action" Associations, the
delegation of Young Catholic Men from Piedmont was conspicuous. That
morning these Associations had held a Congress, attended by the two
Cardinals, Gamba and Maffi, at the Victor Emanuel Theater. The President,
Jevolino, who had come purposely from Naples for the occasion, had
delivered a speech on the theme: Don Bosco, the Educator, and had ended
it with these words: "We propose now to civil Authorities and ask that the
life story of this great man be included in the scholastic curricula, as a
subject for a simple, yet extensive study; and we voice unanimously our
burning desire to see this gigantic beacon of light which, from Turin, casts
its vital rays of faith, Christian action, and charity all over the world, be
designated in the near future as one of the protectors of Italian Youth, so
that all of us may call ourselves devout sons of Don Bosco." These youths
marched as one compact body in the procession, forming a single immense
formation of approximately twelve thousand men.
The 12th and 13th Groups that had been singled out for the honor of
escorting the casket were formed at Valsalice. One isolated group-the
18th-which was to bring up the rear, and march behind the two groups
ahead of it on the near bank of the river, stood waiting on the outskirts of
the Valentino Park, where it joins Corso Vittorio Emanuele and the Po, to
the left of anyone walking toward the town from the direction of the
Umberto Bridge.
12th Group: The Band from the Oratory of St. Francis of Sales; the
boarders of the House of Valsalice; the religious Congrega-
tions of nuns; the Daughters ofMary Help of Christians, with
their General Council.
13th Group: The Processional Cross; the Salesian seminarians and semi-
narians of other Congregations; the Diocesan seminarians
from Giaveno, Chieri, Turin; the Salesian Priests; the Sale-
sian Bishops and Archbishops; His Eminence, the Arch-
bishop of Turin.
18th Group: A Band (from Group 14)
a) Delegations: the Regional Fascist Squadrons ofTurin; the
National Association of Retired Servicemen; the Associa-
tion of Volunteers who had fought in France; the King's
Bombardiers; the National Association of Infantrymen; the

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National Association of Grenadiers; the National Asso-
ciation ofAlpine Troops; the National Association of 'Ber-
saglieri'; the PiedmonteseAssociation ofltalianArtillerymen;
the National Association of Mountain Artillerymen; the
National Association of Engineering Corps; the Directors
of the Association of Naval Veterans; the Cavalry Asso-
ciation (Regional Chapter of Piedmont).
b) The Delegations of Civil Associations: the "St. Cecilia"
Band of past pupils; the National Fascist Confederation:
Industry, Commerce, Farmers, Overland Transport Workers;
Delegations: Fascist Industrial Union, Famija Turineisa,
Union of Handicraft Workers; the Hikers' Association; the
Association ofVenetian Provinces; the Association for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; Various pilgrim groups.
Four large contingents were to join the procession at both ends of
Piazza Castello, i.e., the 16th and 17th Groups were to join it outside the
Madama Palace, the 14th and 15th Groups in front of the Cathedral.
14th Group: The "Cardinal Cagliero" Band from the Festive Oratory of
St. Francis of Sales; the Religious Congregations; the Pro-
vincials and Superior Generals; Diocesan priests; Church
Rectors; Canons of Collegiate, and Metropolitan churches.
15th Group: (Inside the Cathedral) Prelates; Bishops; Archbishops; Cardi-
nals. They were to be escorted by the Knights of the Order
of Malta and of the Holy Sepulcher (in uniform).
16th Group: (At the entrance of the Madama Palace): the Civil and Mili-
tary Authorities; the Consular Corps; (to the right of the
Madama Palace): the Honorary Committee; the Mayors of
the Piedmontese municipal districts in which the Salesians
had Houses.
17th Group: The Military Band from the Turin Garrison; Delegations: the
National Association ofRelatives ofMilitary Personnel fallen
in war and of Fascists who had fallen in action, the National
Association of Disabled Service Men, "The Blue Ribbon"
Institute, Professors and Students ofTurin University, Profes-
sors and Students ofthe "Sacred Heart" University ofMilan,
the Institutes of higher learning, the Association of Women

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Teachers in elementary and secondary schools, the ''Don Bosco''
Teachers Association.
The group leaders and their adjutants had been so diligent in mustering
their respective groups, and in seeing that they reached the point of assem-
bly assigned to them in good time, that everything was in perfect order at
the hour designated, and everything proceeded smoothly, like clockwork,
from start to finish. Father Peter Ricaldone seemed to be everywhere, all
the time, throughout the long procession (which was long both as far as
distance covered and its duration), and he always appeared in the nick of
time wherever there were signs of possible disorder in the ranks, for it
would have been a genuine miracle had there been no signs of a separation
in that endless procession.
From the description given above it is obvious that instrumental music
and young people were the dominant features all along the line ofmarchers;
the strains of the different bands and the singing followed each other from
beginning to end all during the continuous, marvelous march.
THE PROCESSION GETS UNDERWAY
First of all, let us take a look at Piazza Vittorio, from whence the pro-
cession was to set out.
The balconies of the buildings were decorated with drapery, tapestry,
and garlands, and curious spectators stood crowded one against the other
to watch the procession being organized. Long lines of people poured
uninterruptedly into the open square from Via Po and side streets. As soon
as they reached the square, they immediately went to the station assigned
to them, to form the first eight groups which were to lead the procession.
There was great enthusiasm in the throng and no confusion of any sort.
Under the porticoes and behind cordons of police, militiamen, and munici-
pal guards, two immense crowds occupied both sides of the square, eager
to see the hallowed casket borne past.
Down the full length of the broad Via Po, flanked by grand porticoes
and magnificent buildings, the eye could glimpse only multicolored drapes
adorning every window and balcony, and observe the dense flood of
humanity filling both sides of the porticoes, barely confined to the side-
walks. Nevertheless, the police details there to maintain order did not seem
to have undue difficulty in keeping the street clear, at least most of it. The
mounting excitement did not prevent the retention of discipline. This is a

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special trait of the Piedmontese, and on this occasion, the religious quality
of the ceremony perhaps had much to do with it.
At the appointed time, Father Peter Ricaldone gave the signal for the
first group to move forward, followed, one after the other, by the remaining
seven groups. The procession was almost automatically formed; over fifty
thousand persons were taking part.
First came a platoon of municipal guards riding bicycles; they were
followed by a graceful company of young page girls, wearing pink-sky
blue, and white-red uniforms; they carried small banners and tall lilies.
These were the pupils of the Festive Oratories of the Daughters of Mary
Help of Christians. When the head of the procession entered the Via Po,
it marked the beginning of a superlative parade which was to last more than
three hours. The marchers walked twelve abreast, at an even pace, always
different and yet always uniform.
Piazza Vittorio seemed to have become a huge reservoir that dis-
charged an uninterrupted river of humanity. Despite the number of bands,
the music did not clash; each band was separated from the next by several
thousand marchers. The words "Don Bosco is returning" [Don Bosco
ritorna] were echoed in a hundred different keys which varied according
to the age and lungpower of the singers, passing by in their separate groups.
The people were highly impressed by the delegations from different parts
of Italy and foreign countries. There were young girls who symbolized the
regions of Italy; there were others carrying banners with the emblems of
foreign countries in which there were Salesian Houses. There were hun-
dreds of youths who wore wide ribbons across their chests and over one
shoulder, with the names of localities where the Salesians had schools or
Festive oratories. To summarize, the different features paraded uninter-
ruptedly before the watchful eyes of the vast multitude of spectators. Were
we to report them all, a hundred pages would not be enough to describe
only some of the details.
When the eighth group, the last in line, at the far end of Piazza Vittorio,
by the river, had lined up twelve abreast, and had begun to move behind
the group ahead, lo and behold! The ninth group appeared right behind it,
followed in tum by the tenth and eleventh groups, and by the three groups
which were stationed in Via Diazand along Corso Cairoli. These three
groups had over twelve thousand people, led by a very lengthy and radiant
line of Catholic girls wearing white dresses and veils. We shall now let this
opening segment of the procession wend its way down Via Po, cross Via
Castello, march along Via XX Settembre, and tum into Corso Regina

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Margherita in the direction ofMary Help ofChristians, while we go to meet
the second section which was to come from Valsalice.
At two P.M., in the House chapel there were twelve Salesian Bishops,
plus the members of the Superior Chapter. Once the crystal casket was
raised and handed over to the priests of the house who were to carry it, the
Bishops, clad in copes and miters, and the Superiors followed in proces-
sion, down to the ground floor in front of the vault where Don Bosco' s
remains had lain at rest for forty years. When the casket appeared, the
pupils and past pupils who crowded the terraces shouted "Viva Don
Bosco!" [Long live Don Bosco!] in such a way as to fill the whole valley.
Then the voices subsided amid a deep, reverential, expectant silence, and
the casket was placed inside a wooden case, all gilded, where it was to
remain while on display for the veneration of the faithful in the Basilica
of Mary Help of Christians.2
All this was done in the presence of Cardinal Gamba. When the lid was
put back on the wooden case, then the casket was placed on a specially
built vehicle which the Lancia Company had donated. It was the chassis
of an automobile, covered with a magnificent, dark red drapery, fringed
with gilt cord. It had six great rings on either side, while its rear terminated
with a transversal brass bar. All around the casket there were flowerbeds
of roses and evergreens, which emphasized a spirit ofjoy. An unseen driver
guided the vehicle, which was pushed by hand on either side, and from the
rear. In this manner, the casket would be seen in all its splendor, and on
high, as it passed through the surging sea of humanity waiting to view it.
The descent from Valsalice was truly a triumph. As soon as the casket
left the school of Valsalice, the twelfth group, followed by the thirteenth,
was about to set foot on the Umberto Bridge. The bier came last of all in
2 The wooden case had been made by the pupils of San Benigno Canavase following the design drawn by
the Salesian architect, Valotti: four winged angels, standing at the four comers of the frame separating the wooden
case from the base, holding high a garland with symbolic fruits. At the comer of the sides, over the frame which
crowns the casket, stood the Coat of Arms of Pius XI, to the right, and the Coat of Arms of the Salesians, to the
left. Both Coats of Arms were bound by ribbons where the above-mentioned garlands begin. Four crystal panels
close up the wider and smaller sides seen in its entirety, clothed the way already described. The casket had a
moveable lid of a convex shape, carved and entirely decorated with metal chips, with sockets at the four comers,
and constrained on top by two ribbons and a cordon. The base, separated from the base of the casket and with a wide
straight molding, carried on both sides the small Coat of Arms of the Salesians and of the Sisters, with rich small
garland of ivy all around them, as a symbol of the gratitude felt by the past pupils, both girls and boys. On both
sides of the molding, there were luxuriant floral designs, interspersed with medallions with the heads of Seraphic
Angels. In the panels there were palms, roses, lilies, and borders of olive and oak trees, symbolizing the glory,
charity, purity, goodness, and fortitude of the Blessed one. Large acanthus leaves decorated the edges of the molding
closed at the bottom by a spiraled ribbon. The base was supported by powerful lion paws, symbolizing the solidity
of Don Bosco's undertakings.

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the procession. Before it, mitred Salesians, clad in magnificent vestments,
marched, His Eminence Cardinal Hlond closing their ranks, in impressive
sacred purple attire. He was followed by the Rector Major, Father Philip
Rinaldi, and the members of the Superior Chapter, with Count Rebaudengo
and the attorney Masera, who were, respectively, the International Presi-
dents of the Cooperators and the Past Pupils Association. A group of young
pageboys brought a delightful note of festive color to the picturesque sight.
The bier was pushed by Presidents of the "Don Bosco" Teachers'
Associations, organized in all the principal cities of Italy, and by the
Presidents of the Past Pupils Association. Thirty Carabinieri, in gala uni-
form, marched on either side. The popular figure of Cardinal Gamba was
visible immediately behind the bier; he was surrounded by a number of
prelates, canons, and pastors, who in their tum, were followed by a mag-
nificent group of Knights of the Holy Sepulcher, dignitaries of the Holy
Military Orders of St. John of Jerusalem and of Malta, and by the Knights
of the Order of St. Sylvester. Almost unnoticed, the last surviving relatives
of Don Bosco walked with this group, and the procession closed with the
Salesian Provincials from all over the world.
His advanced age, the length of the procession, and the heat of the
season should have counseled the Cardinal Archbishop not to undertake
such a hardship, and yet the Archbishop answered: "It is not up to Don
Bosco to come to meet me, but it is up to me to meet Don Bosco." So the
venerable seventy-year-old Cardinal marched almost four kilometers
under a blazing sun, moved by a sense of sublimely heroic piety, and deep
understanding of the spirit of the people.
What a contrast there was to be between the abundance of that summer
sunshine and the downpour ofrain which drenched the crowds who flocked
to Rome and to Turin in April, 1934, to take part in the celebrations for
Don Bosco's canonization! Yet per ignem o per aquam [under a blazing
sun or pouring rain alike] the glory of Don Bosco, beatified and canonized,
captivated and delighted the crowds who seemed unruffled by, and totally
indifferent to, adverse weather conditions.
Accompanied by the magnificent procession described above, Don
Bosco' s mortal remains were now moving toward the expectant city. To
both left and right, all along the route, crowds of people stood on the
balconies of villas, at the windows of their houses, and on the slopes of
hills. Much lower down, where the road widened, two very dense throngs
lined both sides of the route.
And then there were flowers strewn over the ground, and other flowers,
which rained down on the marchers from above. The bands continued to

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play the song Don Bosco is returning, which thousands and thousands of
voices took up with jubilation. As the bier was carried along, the crowds
were held in check by the Bersaglieri, civic guards and Carabinieri, but they
continued shouting, with the utmost enthusiasm: Viva Don Bosco! [Long
live Don Bosco!]
When the scarlet bier appeared at the far end of the Corso Fiume,
beyond the Crimean Memorial, the vast crowd waiting aside the Umberto
Bridge and along Corso Vittorio Emanuele, surged forward impetuously
to the point of creating fright, and so reinforcements of militia had to be
called upon to prevent the people from breaking through the restraining
cordons. The invocation "Don Bosco! Don Bosco!" could be heard every-
where, but when the casket had passed the bridge, and was on its way
toward the city, the people knelt to render the first homage of the Turin
population to the now Blessed priest.
The duration of the procession had been calculated with astonishing
accuracy, and its progress proceeded so exactly, that the vanguard of the
two groups coming from Valsalice appeared right on schedule to fall in line
behind the rear guard of the three groups filing out of Via Diaz and Corso
Cairoli. As the bier and its escort came into view from the direction of the
Po, the immense, diverse eighteenth group moved forward, as compact as
a Roman legion, from the direction of the Valentino Park, to become the
last deployment of the most colorful, musical, melodious procession that
had ever marched through the broad streets of the Piedmontese capital.
Thunderous outbursts of applause, and deafening Hurrahs hailed the
casket as it advanced. Mothers lifted up their little ones towards the bier.
The teeming crowd which had moved from the far side of the Piazza
Vittorio to fill the void left by the eight groups who had joined the march,
now became uncontrolled, and pushed, shoved, and shouted, as agitated
as a stormy sea. Many people who were nearest to the casket knelt. The
excitement and uproar spread to the Via Po, as the bier came abreast of the
first houses on the far side of the square, and joyous cries mingled with
singing and the strains of music, while a fragrant shower of flowers fell
on the casket at every step, weaving underfoot, a multicolored carpet of
petals and leaves. The little white hands of children waved happily from
balconies, while the hands of their elders could be seen, clasped in the act
of prayer. Soon the repeated refrain of Don Bosco is returning, was picked
up by the spectators, who from down below or from on top were singing
it, together with the groups making up the procession. The festive pealing
of bells, and music joined to music, increased the jubilation. Joy and
emotions and enthusiasm were evident everywhere.

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It was nearly six o'clock when the bier turned from Via Po into the vast,
renowned Piazza Castello. In this square the people of Turin had always
gathered at the more solemn, or more radiant, moments of their city's
history. The casket now came to a halt in front of Palazzo Madama,
standing majestic, almost exactly in the center of the square. This was to
give time to the 16th and 17th groups to take their places in the line of
procession. These groups included the authorities and outstanding del-
egations. The crowds of spectators stood behind military barriers. The
buildings had their balconies and windows decorated with multicolored
drapes. Groups of eager people could be seen perched aloft on improvised
stands on the rooftops. Everywhere the voices of male and female choirs
and musical marches resounded all around and echoed from afar, creating
a blend of mixed and indistinct sounds, which filled the air and stirred the
spirit. The official representatives of civil authority, the political, and aca-
demic worlds, and the army, now fell into line behind Cardinal Gamba and
the standard of the city of Turin with an Honor Guard, which led the way.
The bier passed in front of the Government Palace, crossed the open
space before the Royal Palace, to continue in the direction of the Cathedral
Square. Two Princes of the Church, as well as four Cardinals, Maffi of Pisa,
Ascalesi of Naples, Nasalli-Rocca of Bologna, and Vidal y Barraquer of
Tarragona, followed by some sixty Archbishops and Bishops, a number of
abbots, canons, and pastors, and countless secular and regular priests, came
down the steps of the Cathedral to meet the casket and escort it on its way
to the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians. The stands that had been set
up in front of the Cathedral were filled with spectators singing acclama-
tions. The bier then moved off, with its chosen retinue.
To the right of the entrance to Via XX Settembre, a new wing of the
Royal Palace overlooks the street, and here, by the express wish of Prince
Umberto of Savoy, eight immense, magnificent tapestries were now dis-
played at the windows for the first time. The Prince was standing on the
central balcony, and with him were Princess Yolanda, the Dukes of Genoa
and Udine, the Duke and Duchess of Pistoia, the Duke of Bergamo, and
Princess Maria Adelaide. For a few moments, the casket halted in view of
their Highnesses, and the Crown Prince knelt down in reverent devotion.
Meanwhile, the metallic sound of aircraft high above the marchers
mingled with the immense and deafening thunder ofthe hymn that was now
sung by countless lusty voices, and played by innumerable instruments
with no sign of stopping in the Piazza del Duomo, and along Via XX
Settembre, and Corso Regina Margherita.

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What a magnificent sight to behold did the Corso offer! This was the
home of the ordinary people. Earlier it had been the upper elements of
society that took precedence, but now, for a distance of one thousand and
two hundred meters, by some forty meters wide, there was a teeming throng
of common folk to welcome the bier. Here, too, buildings flanking the route
were decorated handsomely, and knots of spectators stood grouped, like to
bunches of grapes, at windows and on the rooftops. Where the Corso
Regina Margherita crosses the vast marketplace of Porto Palazzo, the
crowd had occupied not only what little empty space there was, but also
many had even climbed up to the roofs of the market booths, and sat on
them. There could have been a real disaster if at any point people had
broken down the barriers set up by the police as restraining devices.
The almost cinematographic variety of the precession enchanted the
imagination of the crowd, and was the cause of explosive demonstrations
of enthusiasm, typical of mass gatherings. The applause became even more
intense when the clergy appeared.
When the people noticed from a distance the golden glint of the bier,
a tremor seemed to have passed through them all, generating enthusiastic
shouts and warm applause. The entire Corso, its houses and vast square,
were filled with the refrain of the hymn Don Bosco is returning as a festive
and easy expression of a general feeling. There were waves of mystical
fervor, which grew and grew in height and volume, at every stop of the
casket.
Between Corso Regina Margherita and Corso Valdocco there is an
immense, open space, popularly known as the Rondo. It was now quite
filled with a dense crowd, consisting mainly of women. Above their heads,
other spectators could be seen, perched half-way up lamp posts, or stand-
ing, jammed one against the other, on automobiles, trucks, and improvised
grandstands. At the entrance to the Corso, several huge touring buses
provided uncomfortable "hospitality" to anyone able to climb onto their
roofs.
Every group of the endless procession was singing that hymn, the notes
and words of which were picked up and repeated by the crowd. No wonder
then that the simple little tune of Don Bosco ritoma - fra i giovani ancor
[Don Bosco is returning once again among the boys] was to be heard for
a long time to come, hummed or whistled through the streets of Turin.
Thanks to the perfect coordination that Father Peter Ricaldone had
planned, prepared and properly maintained, the lengthy marching column
was able to execute all its evolutions without hindrance or delay. Father

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Ricaldone appeared to have winged feet, so swiftly did he appear wherever
there seemed to be any need of energetic intervention. The threat of pos-
sible chaos was strongest toward the end of the route, when each individual
group reached its destination and found itself, without any guide or control,
detached from the order of the procession in what was, relatively, a very
limited space! Yet this threat had been taken into account in advance, and
arrangements had been made to cope with it. As the individual group
leaders marched down Via Cottolengo, into the square and inside the
Church of Mary Help of Christians, they all knew with mathematical
precision exactly at what point they were to call a halt, and guide their
followers. Thanks to the measures taken in advance, and the competence
of the group leaders, the final lap of the march, which would otherwise have
been the most crucial, was as well-ordered, and as calmly precise as any
parade of a well-trained army.
HAPPENINGS WITHIN THE CHURCH OF MARY
HELP OF CHRISTIANS
Not even St. Peter's Basilica would have been adequate for the occa-
sion, and that evening the Church of Mary Help of Christians was so fully
filled as to resemble a nutshell.
But we must say that at that hour, the most solemn hour of the entire
day, a sense of spiritual intensity had taken possession of the crowd praying
outside, in the square, along the road and the adjacent Corso, to the point
that the whole area around the church seemed to have become part of the
Church itself. It looked just as though the aisles of Mary Help of Christians
had miraculously widened in size, to accommodate many thousands of
people.
As the casket moved at a slow, solemn pace, from the far end of the
square toward the church, designated persons left the ranks of the marchers
to take their assigned places inside the church. Outside the sanctuary and
to the left of the altar rail stood the white Knights of the Holy Sepulcher
and the red Knights of Malta. On the opposite side of the altar were the
attendants of the Princes of Savoy and the Ladies of the Palace, all of them
dressed in black and seated in special chairs. In the adjoining pews was
a distinguished group of Generals in glittering uniforms; the pews on the
opposite side of the church were occupied by civil authorities, Fascist
officials, and other dignitaries. The Bishops, with mitre and crozier, and
wearing magnificent copes, minor Prelates clad in beautiful chasubles,

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Canons with their cappa magna, pastors with their mozzettas, all occupied
the center space in an orderly fashion at the orders of the incomparable
Master of Ceremonies, Father Vismara. Every comer of the church was
filled with nuns dressed in a variety of habits or Religious clothed in
varying outfits, while a flock of seminarians in their surplices filled the
aisle. The more eminent Cooperators took their seats in the lateral grand-
stands.
Outside, as well as inside the church, the crowd reverently made way,
now and then, for some Cardinal on his way to the sanctuary.
The interior of the church presented a magnificent picture, when the
Prince of Piedmont, followed by Princes and Princesses of the Royal
Family, (whom we have already met at the Royal Palace), made an appear-
ance from the Sacristy. Munificent chairs had been arranged for him and
his party inside the sanctuary, in cornu evangelii [on the Gospel side] of
the altar, while the Cardinals sat in cornu epistolae [on the Epistle side].
In the center of the sanctuary there was a platform covered with red damask
on which Don Bosco's casket was to be placed.
Now, at last, the radiant bier appeared in the great central door. When
the thunderous applause had, in an instant, died away, one could hear only
the festive sound of pealing bells from outside. Then, a trumpet blast
greeted the arrival of the casket, followed by the joyous, swelling strains
of the organ, and by an outburst of a hearty cheers, as the bier moved
deliberately up the aisle, swaying like a ship over that sea of heads. The
casket was carried on the shoulders ofvigorous past-pupils, and as it passed
by, people first bowed and then fastened their eyes on the figure of the
Blessed, whose profile could be seen clearly through the crystal panes. The
bier moved on up the aisle. It reached the altar rail and was lifted up to
the sanctuary, then gently lowered on the base made ready for it. The church
was bathed in lights. A fairy tale fantasy of candles shed fiery radiance on
the damask and velvet vestments. Two large floodlights, concealed behind
the altar rail, shed pools of light on the figure of the Blessed, which looked
as though adorned with brilliant gems. Meanwhile, from the choir loft, a
mighty choir was heard singing lste Confessor, the liturgical hymn for
Confessors, and composed by Father Pagella.
The Cardinal Archbishop approached the altar where the Blessed Sac-
rament had been exposed and after the Tantum ergo, he imparted the
Eucharistic Benediction inside the church. Cardinals Vidal y Barraquer and
Hlond did the same at two altars, one erected in the square outside the
church, the other in the Rondo, for the benefit of the vast multitude kneeling

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as far as the eye could see. Finally, inside the church, the Princes and
Authorities kissed the casket with devotion and then left the church by the
side door leading to the playground.
It was already dark when the ceremony ended. Twelve thousand elec-
tric light bulbs, carried by five hundred circuits subdivided in four sectors,
provided magical illumination of the cupola and the fa~ade of the church.
The statue of Our Lady reigned supreme over a radiant glory of crosses,
and multicolored stars. The illuminations extended beyond the square to
Corso Regina Margherita. Don Bosco' s monument was so brilliantly lit by
floodlights hidden in the encircling flowerbeds, that it looked as though it
were made luminous by the sun. The strains of Don Bosco's hymn could
be heard everywhere. The hubbub sweeping the city went on until late into
the night.
The city was picturesquely lit with lamps and small lanterns every-
where, from the Royal Palace to the humblest window in low income neigh-
borhoods. These seemed to extend a parting greeting to the throngs ofpilgrims
who were roaming through the streets, and hastening to arrange their return
home. In the brief span of three hours, from ten P.M. until one A.M., twenty-
four trains, seventeen of which were special trains, puffed their way out
of Turin.
Townspeople, and many visitors who were in no hurry to leave, went
to the Stadium to enjoy the display of fireworks, which was honored by
the presence of the Royal Princes and a number of public officials, standing
on a platform. One of the fireworks reproduced the Basilica of Mary Help
of Christians, with the figure of Don Bosco visible in the open doorway
in the act of protecting Youth. It was applauded enthusiastically.
THE TRIDUUM
Demonstrations of affection and devotion for Don Bosco did not end
when the lights illuminating the city were turned off the night of June 9,
1929. Rather, with great intensity they continued during the triduum cele-
brated in his honor. Nor did the steady stream of visitors at Valdocco decrease.
Pilgrims and other faithful visitors filled the church, the square, and the
playground of the Oratory, from four in the morning until eleven o'clock
at night, and milled unceasingly around the bier placed in the center of the
church. During the hours of greater congestion, a double file of athletic
youths were detailed to form a cordon for the uninterrupted procession,
and priests and clerics did their best to direct it in an orderly fashion, asking

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people not to tarry any longer than was absolutely necessary. Several priests
were detailed to respond to the pious requests of the faithful, as they took
the personal objects which were handed to them, and with them, they touched
the crystal casket and handed them back.
Many people were not content to merely venerate the relics of Don
Bosco, but wished to receive the Sacraments as well. Confessions were
heard everywhere, in every comer of the church, and Communions were
distributed uninterruptedly. Every morning thousands and thousands of
hosts were consumed.
And what shall we say about the church services? The presence of the
Roman Cardinals conferred great solemnity to them, since one Cardinal
or another pontificated every day, both at the Solemn High Mass and at
Benediction, with all the pomp and ceremony due to his rank. After Vespers,
three Cardinals delivered orations in praise of Don Bosco. On the first day
of the triduum, Cardinal Hlond recalled the celebrations in Rome; he men-
tioned the magnificent procession in Turin, and he singled out the moving
demonstration that was renewed every day around the bier. As he looked
for reasons to justify all of this, he found them all summed up in the kindly
holiness of Don Bosco, who had been sent by Divine Providence to be the
Apostle of the supernatural in the world of the 19th century, so opposed
and so indifferent and hostile to whatever was supernatural. If secularism
has been disposed of here and there during the present 20th century, the
Cardinal said, that was due to Don Bosco and his sons. On the second day
of the triduum, Cardinal Nasalli-Rocca exalted the good work performed
by Don Bosco, thanks to the gifts that God had given him and which he
had lavished on Youth, on Society in general, on his native country, Italy,
and on the entire world. Cardinal Gamba moved an immense congregation
with his stirring eloquence on the last day. Once a pupil of Blessed Don
Bosco and now Bishop of the Archdiocese, he let the surge of his affections
and recollections have free rein, as he portrayed Don Bosco as a priest of
God, and as a conqueror of souls. For a full hour, his listeners hung, rapt,
on every word he said, never wearying oflistening to him. Five loud speakers
located in the playground, in the square, and along Viale Regina Marghe-
rita, broadcast outside what was carried inside the church. On the first and
third days of the triduum, the radio transmitted the music played in the
church. Each day ended with sparkling light works.
Everyone agreed that the music performed was worthy of the man who,
already in the early years of his Institute, had stressed the great importance

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of music in the education and the formation of youth. At the very beginning
of his work, Don Bosco relied on his own talents and those of his co-workers,
who from the point of view of art were not capable of any great achieve-
ments. But there came a time when among his sons, musical maestros and
composers appeared. Just as in Rome, so also in Turin, the Salesians affirmed
or confirmed their artistic maturity as they created musical compositions
which won high praises from musical connoisseurs. Foremost among Sale-
sian composers were Fathers Antolisei, Pagella, De Bonis, Hlond (the Cardi-
nal's brother), and Dogliani, the Coadjutor Brother. They sang the Magnificat,
written by Father De Bonis, a brilliant composition in its inspiration and
its richly varied musical theme, which confirmed that priest's excellent talent
as a composer. Antolisei' s M issa in honorem Beati Ionannis Bosco for eight
voices, and Pagella' s Missa Solemnis XIX, also dedicated to the new Blessed
Founder,3 were likewise greatly admired. The composer of the second Mass
had the happy inspiration to use for his Gloria the theme of a little Christ-
mas song that had been written, lyrics and music, by Don Bosco himself
in the early days of the Oratory: Ah! Si canti in suon di Giubilo [Ah! Let
there be singing with jubilation]. In the Church of Mary Help of Christians,
the majority ofthe choir was made up of the choirs oftwo Salesian schools-
one with 85 tenor and bass voices from the International Institute of The-
ology, "La Crocetta," where Father Grosso was choirmaster; the other with
125 soprano and contralto voices trained at the Oratory by Brother Dogliani.
The musical performances, as a whole, appeared beyond any and all praise
for the freshness of the voices and their mastery, for their harmony and
pliability in following directions. Rarely did one hear such exquisite musical
perfection, and the series of performances in Turin could not have honored,
in a more eloquent manner, the zealous champion of sacred music, Don
Bosco.
VARIOUS MANIFESTATIONS RELATED TO
BLESSED DON BOSCO'S FESTIVITIES
There was a series of events which were all, more or less, related to
the recent main event described in this chapter, both during and after the
triduum. One such manifestation was a visit made by the Cardinals, the
Bishops, and Missionaries to the Fiat establishment, the biggest automobile
plant in Italy, on the morning of June 10th.
3 Maestro Tebaldini commented on these two Salesian Masses with greater competence. Unfortunately his
reviews were not published, but we should not allow them to be lost. (App. Doc. 13).

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The owner of the Fiat, Senator Agnelli, was present with the local
authorities, to welcome their Eminences with fitting honors. Father Peter
Ricaldone introduced the visitors, and remarked that they represented the
entire world. As a matter of fact, together with the Italian and the foreign
Prelates, there were resident Bishops, Vicars Apostolic and Prefects Apos-
tolic, and Superiors of Missions from different parts of Africa, Asia, and
America. Senator Agnelli welcomed the visitors, and said their presence
at his plant reminded him of the great man who had been feted in Turin.
"It is indeed a great honor for me to welcome your Eminences, the
Prelates and Missionaries here, to our Fiat plant," he said. "My heartfelt
welcome to all of you is all the more dear to me inasmuch as I still
remember having known Don Bosco in person, and his radiant image is
forever speaking to my spirit. The followers and disciples of Don Bosco,
of this great Piedmontese, particularly venerated and honored today by
Turin, will feel here at our plant the pulsating rhythm of a life that would
have delighted Blessed Don Bosco, a sublime hero of Christian charity, a
staunch apostle of human work, an extraordinary champion of vigorous
activity, a discoverer of secret resources, and an indefatigable founder of
workshops, and factories. The workers of the Fiat plant feel honored if
heroic Missionaries belonging to Salesian Houses which, now, literally,
cover the whole surface of the earth, would carry with them to the land of
their apostolate, amid faraway people of alien origin, the memory of a
renewed Italy, the vivid recollection and vision of this temple of Labor of
ours."
The visit lasted several hours and left in everyone concerned a deep,
and lasting admiration.
Becchi, the humble hamlet where Don Bosco had first seen the light
of day, was not forgotten. Many pilgrims made a change in their travel
arrangements before returning home and visited Becchi. Cardinal Ascalesi
went there, with two hundred pilgrims from the South, and Endrici, Bishop
of Trent, accompanied him. When the latter was asked if he would list all
his titles beneath his signature in the Visitors' Book, he exclaimed: "My
titles? What are they, compared with the greatness attained by the humble
peasant boy who was born in this poor dwelling?" The pilgrimages con-
tinued daily for several weeks. From the humble objects that had surrounded
Don Bosco in his infancy, a mysterious voice seemed to rise as a summons
to pursue goodness, virtue, and fruitful labor. On June 16th, a touching
ceremony drew a crowd of people from the surrounding countryside, as a

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number of important visitors from Turin and Alessandria attended the inau-
guration of a bronze memorial which the "Don Bosco" Teachers Union
had erected atop that hallowed hill.
A more important, lasting moment brought the festivities in Turin to
a fitting close: there was a monument which was not only to commemorate,
but actually continue, Don Bosco' s apostolic work in Turin, just as in Rome.
With a magnificent gesture, Senator Count Rebaudengo, the President of the
Salesian Cooperators, donated funds for the foundation of a new Institute
where master craftsmen were to be trained for the Salesian missions. The
building was to be in Turin, in the Barriera Di Milano. During the afternoon
of the 13th, the cornerstone was blessed with great solemnity in the pres-
ence of the principal civil and ecclesiastical authorities of the city. Since
this new, sparkling jewel in Don Bosco' s crown concerned the Missions,
a genuine Missionary, Father Vincent Cimatti, the Director of the Salesian
Mission in Japan, sketched out the activities which the new foundation
would make available, especially in the Far East. Then Father Philip Rinaldi
expressed his gratitude, on behalf of the Salesian Society, for the Count' s
generous, inspired donation. The Count, as modest as he was generous,
refrained from making any speech. The Sacred Ceremony was performed
by the Archbishop, who at its end, addressed the gathering. He praised the
gesture of the donor highly, and even more clearly indicated the good fruits
Don Bosco' s sons would now be able to bring forth and spread throughout
the world, by means of the craft masters trained in that foundation.
The Missions had always been uppermost in Don Bosco's thoughts,
so nothing could have been more fitting than a lasting Missionary Institute,
to commemorate for all time his Beatification. In this respect, another trib-
ute which rendered public, official recognition to the activity as a Mission-
ary of one of his most distinguished sons, was incorporated harmoniously
in the glorification of the great Founder. Thanks to his noble effort Cardinal
Cagliero had fully personified the Salesian Apostolate in the Missions; it
was Mussolini's idea to call the attention of His Majesty to the merits of
the illustrious Missionary, so that the Colonial Order of the Star of Italy
might be awarded to him. This honor now came at a most propitious moment.
This honor is greatly coveted by all Italians who have brought distinction
abroad to the name of their native country.
Immediately after the celebrations in Rome and Turin, there was an
abundance of celebrations all over the world. As soon as it was known that
his Mass and his Office had been officially approved, many Bishops in Europe

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and America applied to the Holy See, so as to obtain faculties to celebrate
Don Bosco's Mass in their own Dioceses. The Salesian Bulletin published
brief reports on these worldwide demonstrations in many of its issues.
REMARKS
On June 9, 1929, a magnificent event had taken place in Turin. It was
a sublime glorification which would never be erased from the memory of
those people fortunate to have had the chance to take part in it, or who had,
at least, watched it as spectators. A great artist, the sculptor Edward Rubino,
expressed himself eloquently while talking to a journalist on the evening
of the translation of Don Bosco's body: "Today we saw how the masses
can write a poem and build a monument to this blessed man whom they
revere. But I, who feel so proud to say that, I, who as a boy, worked on
the temple raised by Don Bosco, I shall never forget this afternoon."4
There is another document, perhaps without parallel in the annals of
any big city, which confirms for posterity the exceptional quality of these
historic celebrations. In an official communique to the press, issued the day
after this great event, the Mayor of Turin, Count Thaon di Revel, said that
he was both happy and proud to tell the city of Turin how grateful and
appreciative he was for the good order and discipline with which, even
with the overwhelming enthusiasm and emotion felt by all in paying rev-
erent tribute to Blessed Don Bosco, the people had taken part in the solemn
translation ofhis mortal remains. What has been said here about the Turinese
people must be applied also to the many thousands of out-of-town visitors
who had come for the occasion. After spending the hallowed day mingling
with the people of the city, they departed during the evening hours, or during
the night, almost unobserved, and without creating the smallest incident.
The principal merit for this magnificent order and discipline was not due
to any great turnout by the police force, for there had been none, but to
the perfect and detailed organization that, from morning until night, had
devoted the same careful attention to the requirements of huge contingents
of people as it had to those of the individual pilgrim.
For the sake of history, something should be said about the attitude of
the newspapers, regardless of their political affiliations. As Senator Mar-
quis Philip Crispoliti5 pointed out, the press coverage of the celebrations
was extensive and flattering to a degree that would have been quite incon-
ceivable some years earlier. Even newspapers which had often ignored, or
4 La Ga:a.etta del Popolo, June 10th.
5 L'ltalia, Milan, June 14th.

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attacked, and even mocked Don Bosco during his lifetime, had now been
no less expansive than their fellow newspapers. By the grace of God, the
advent of Fascism had put an end to the godless and blatantly anti-religious
political climate of former times, and the press had fallen in line with the
new directives.
The sixty-one Bishops who had taken part in the triumph rendered to
Don Bosco took back to their respective dioceses such pleasant memories
that they hastened to write letters of grateful and affectionate admiration
to Father Philip Rinaldi. At the end of the triduum, Cardinal Gamba wrote a
detailed report of the honors rendered to Don Bosco by the city of Turin for
the benefit of the Holy Father, and underscored in it the overwhelmingly
religious spirit of the manifestation. The Pope had his Secretary of State,
Cardinal Gasparri, write a beautiful letter in reply. In this letter, among
other things, he wrote: "The Holy Father could not be other than profoundly
moved by the devout, enthusiastic attitude of the people, by the festive
house decorations, by the full-scale attendance by the authorities, by the
magnificent, orderly procession, and particularly, by the great number of
people attending the religious services and receiving the holy Sacraments,
for these things are all public demonstrations of faith and of piety, which
cannot but deeply move the heart of the Holy Father."
The prophecy published by Renan in his Study of Religious History
comes to our mind in the aftermath of this spectacular triumph. Renan
wrote: "Saints will continue to be canonized in Rome, but none of them
will ever be canonized by the people." The celebrations following Don
Bosco's Beatification overwhelmingly contradict the oracle-like words of
the pseudo-scientist. In elevating Don Bosco to the honors of the Altar,
Rome did nothing more than set an official seal of approval on a wide-
spread, popular cult which, in deference to Church discipline, had been
held in check. But once Rome had spoken, it became evident that, had we
still been living in the times when Christians were wont to bum incense
and address prayers publicly to people who died in the odor of sanctity,
few popular canonizations would have been as rapid, or as universal, as
that of Don Bosco.

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Q!qupter 10
Echoes of the Beatification
in the Words of the Holy Father, Pius XI
During the years that lapsed between Don Bosco' s beatification and
canonization, the Holy Father, Pius XI, spoke of Don Bosco on several
occasions, and in different ways. The words uttered by this great Pontiff
unquestionably redound to the glory of the Servant of God, and so it will
be useful to collate in this chapter the most significant of these pronounce-
ments.
A most flourishing Salesian school offered the Pope the first solemn
occasion to speak on Don Bosco, on October 18, 1929. The year 1929 had
been a year of pilgrimages, since the Pope was celebrating his priestly
golden jubilee. On October 18th, the pupils and Superiors of the Frascati
School went as a body to render a tribute to him. Father Francis Tomasetti,
the Procurator General, had arranged an audience for them. It was he who
introduced them to the Pope. His Holiness then addressed them in a fatherly
manner, telling them how pleased he was to be surrounded by the pupils
of Blessed Don Bosco, and to see for himself the excellent results of the
Salesian education they were receiving. He handed to the leaders of the
pilgrimage medals commemorative of his jubilee for all pilgrims, saying
that these medals were particularly suited to them because they had on one
side the picture of Blessed Don Bosco.
Until that time, he had distributed medals with his own picture on one
side and that of St. Teresa of the Child Jesus on the other. But from this
moment on, he also distributed, and quite often, the newly coined medal
with the likeness of Don Bosco on it. This is how this came about. During
a public audience granted to pilgrims a few weeks after Don Bosco's
Beatification, the Pope was distributing medals of St. Teresa to some
Daughters ofMary Help of Christians. "I would be glad to give you medals
of Don Bosco, ifl had any," he said. When the Rector Major, Father Philip
Rinaldi, heard of this, he told the Economer General to have one hundred
thousand medals struck with the likeness of Don Bosco on one side and
that of the Pope on the other, to be offered to the Holy Father. From that
time on, the Pope distributed the medals as the occasions warranted.

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On November 2, 1929, a rather unusual group of pilgrims were received
by the Pope in an audience. They were 200 bank employees from the After-
Work Recreation Association of the National Credit Bank. After addressing
them, the Pope had this medal distributed to them. Remarking how timely
it was, because Don Bosco had been "a great worker, as he was engaged
in a work which provided extraordinary benefits, a work well thought out,
that had been the source of great rewards and merits, not only before God,
but also before mankind."
Even more unusual was the audience granted on Nov. 6, 1929, to 350
Alpine Guides who were in Rome for their national convention. At the end
of an affectionate speech, the Pope, who had been an enthusiastic moun-
taineer himself, remarked that he was glad to give each of them a small
souvenir, as well as his Apostolic Blessing. He said that this souvenir had
his own fatherly likeness on one side, to remind his beloved sons of their
visit to him, and the likeness of Don Bosco on the other. "My wish that
you keep this little souvenir is not casual in any way," he told them, "for
Don Bosco was a spiritual mountain guide who led millions of youths to
high levels of Christian virtue, to the sanctification of work, and to a holy
way of life. May he watch over you, too, and protect you in moments of
arduous trials; may he help you climb the loftiest spiritual peaks as success-
fully as you now climb your mountain heights."
One of his references to Don Bosco took a more solemn significance
than the others, inasmuch as it was uttered during a consistorial allocution.
At the secret Consistory of December 16, 1929, when six new Cardinals
were appointed, the Pope spoke of the events which had led so many
Catholics to visit Rome during his jubilee year, and uttered the following
words which we have translated from Latin: "Nor do We intend to overlook
the fact that many of those people came to Rome when We decreed the
honor of beatification to men who were outstanding in their sanctity of life,
among whom We are particularly happy to mention Blessed John Bosco,
who personally, and through his vast family of followers, all dedicated to
the service of the Church, has devoted himself, as no one else before him,
to the Christian education of youth."
We must also mention the papal encyclicals among the more solemn
pontifical documents. One such encyclical concerning spiritual retreats-
Mens Nostra-published on December 20, 1929, exhorted the secular clergy
to make spiritual retreats and quoted as an example, one given by the Rev.
Cafasso. This reference led him to express a few, but quite eloquent, words

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on Don Bosco. "This is the way the most zealous priests felt, this is what
they always practiced and this is what was taught by those who distin-
guished themselves in the direction of souls and in the formation of the
clergy. To quote just one example of such zealous priests, we will remem-
ber Blessed Joseph Cafasso, whom we have recently raised to the honor
of the Altar. He is one who used the Spiritual Retreat to sanctify himself
and his brother priests, and it was at the end of these retreats that, guided
by a surely divine, supernatural intuition, he could point out to one of his
penitents, a young priest, the path Divine Providence assigned to him, and
so led him to become Blessed John Bosco. No praise is as good as that
name."
Three days later, in another encyclical, Quinquagesimo ante, with which
Pius XI ended his golden priestly jubilee, he reviewed the reasons for which
he felt a great deal of comfort during the celebrations of this priestly golden
jubilee. Among these reasons he was pleased to recall, with warm words,
Don Bosco's beatification. This is the passage which we are referring to:
"How can we describe the comfort that filled Our heart when, after We had
listed John Bosco among the Blessed, We publicly venerated him in the
Vatican Basilica? In our tender memories of bygone years when, at the
dawn of Our priesthood, We enjoyed the wise conversation of this great
man, We marveled at the Mercy of God-truly wonderful in His Saints-
for having withstood for so long and in so providential a way through His
Blessed Servant, the attacks of evil and sectarian men who endeavored to
undermine the Christian religion, and to humble the supreme authority of
the Roman Pontiff by means of base accusations and abuse. When still a
child, Don Bosco used to gather around himself boys of his own age, to
pray with them and to teach them the rudiments of Catholic doctrine. Later,
when he became a priest, he devoted all his thoughts and efforts to the
salvation of youth, which, more than all others, was exposed to the deceit
of evil men. He called upon them and asked them to join him, thus keeping
them away from dangers; he taught them the commandments of the Gos-
pel, and trained them to be upright in their behavior. He joined forces with
others, to widen his sphere of action, and was so successful that he pro-
cured for the Church a new, compact legion of soldiers of Christ; he founded
schools and workshops in which, both here and abroad, he instructed boys
on how to learn, and on how to acquire a trade. Last of all, he sent many
missionaries to extend the Kingdom of Christ among pagans. When We
were reminiscing on all these things during that visit to St. Peter's Basilica,
We did not think solely of how the Lord upholds and fortifies His Church,

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especially in times of great hardship, but also of how, by the special provi-
dence of the Creator of all things, the first Servant of His to whom We
decreed heavenly honors, after concluding the long-awaited, and long-desired
concordat ofPeace with the Kingdom ofltaly, was John Bosco, who deplored
so intensely the violations of the sacred rights of the Apostolic See and
who, on several occasions, endeavored to bring about the restoration of
those rights, and achieve the amicable settlement of the tragic conflict that
wrested Italy from Our paternal embrace."
Pius XI issued yet a third encyclical on the last day of the year, just
before 1929 expired. This is, perhaps, one of the greatest encyclicals of his
entire Pontificate. We refer to the Divini illius, on the Christian education
of youth. A day earlier, he had addressed a hundred pupils and past pupils
of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, who had gone to Rome from Turin;
and, it seems, he had referred to the topic of the imminent encyclical for,
as he handed out the usual commemorative medals, he remarked that this
medal was particularly suited to them, inasmuch as it showed all that can
be accomplished by means of a sincerely Christian education. He also
pointed out that the benefits of this education could be summed up in two
short words which he at that time recommended to them earnestly: Chris-
tian education. We believe that he made a similar reference in a speech to
the pupils of the Pontifical Institute "St. Appollinaire" on February 16,
1930, for as he handed the customary medals to their Principal for distri-
bution to the boys, he said: "This medal will serve as a constant reminder
of this wonderful audience, and will guide your thoughts to the radiant
apostle of Christian education of youth, whose conversations We enjoyed;
for We had both the good fortune to know him in person, and to elevate
him to the honor of the Altar."
The Holy Father had another opportunity to praise Don Bosco on
March 12th, when he addressed the Friends of the Catholic University of
the Sacred Heart. He had been speaking to them of corporal charity which
gives to the poor, and of spiritual charity which dispenses truth, and he
ended his speech with these words: "We now wish to give a medal, as a
souvenir of this audience, to everyone here present," and so saying, he
handed the medals to the President of the Honorary Committee. "On one
side you see Our likeness, on the other that of Blessed Don Bosco who is
a radiant example of this twofold charity. As a matter of fact, while he
provided generously in his admirable houses for children and for poor and
homeless boys, he never neglected to devote his energy to the all-important
task of enlightening the minds of men, spreading the word of truth, and

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encouraging the development of such holy works. The Friends of the
Catholic University can learn much more from such a model, and We
earnestly hope that they will."
On April 13th, still in reference to Don Bosco, the Pope spoke in a
patriotic and social vein. A Salesian Bishop and Missionary, Bishop Ernest
Coppo, accompanied 200 pilgrims who had been born in the Apulia region,
but who were now residents of the United States of America, to visit the
Pope on their return to Italy to visit their native country. The Pope told
them: "We shall give you a medal as a souvenir of your mother country.
On this medal you will see the likeness of Don Bosco, who was not only
a great Christian educator, but also a glorious son of Italy, his country, and
a sincere friend of the working classes everywhere in the world. Therefore,
as We bless your work and your efforts, We are happy to give you this
souvenir with the sincere hope that the picture of Don Bosco will always
remind you of your duty to sanctify your work and your whole way of life."
In 1930, Don Bosco' s undertakings in Rome celebrated their fiftieth
anniversary. It was in 1880, that Leo Xill had entrusted to Don Bosco the
task of building the church of the Sacred Heart. The celebrations began on
Sunday, May 11th, and ended on the 18th. May 11th was also the vigil of
the feast of St. Achilles, the Holy Father's patron saint. So on that day the
Salesians rendered a solemn tribute to the Pope. Pupils of the Salesians and
of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, and Salesian Cooperators
were received in an audience; some 15,000 persons crowded the Court of
St. Damasus. In the presence of the Pope, Father Peter Ricaldone, who was
acting on behalf of Father Philip Rinaldi who had to remain in Turin for
health reasons, read out the following address:
"Blessed Father:
"When Blessed Don Bosco opened his Hospice in Rome some fifty
years ago, he saw the fulfillment of a long cherished desire, for he had
wanted for so many years to see his Society located near the Pope, and for
this reason: he felt that under the surveillance of the Vicar of Jesus Christ,
it would be more abundantly blessed and sanctified. His Holiness Leo xm
made this desire come true by entrusting to Don Bosco the construction
of a national shrine consecrated to the Sacred Heart ofJesus. This enhanced
Don Bosco'sjoy, because he now had an opportunity to glorify the Sacred
Heart, while rendering a solemn testimony ofhis obedience to the Supreme
Pontiff. Overwhelmed with troubles, he traveled throughout Italy, France,

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and Spain, anxiously appealing to the faithful to help him create an immense
place of devotion to the Sacred Heart within the capital of the Christian
world.
"The task was accomplished on time, so that Don Bosco, whose strength
was waning fast, was comforted by being able to attend the consecration
of the church. This enabled him, as he himself said, to fulfill two goals:
to render thanks to his true father and sovereign benefactor, the angelic
Pope Pius IX, and to receive the blessing of God's Vicar on earth, before
appearing before God's Judgment Seat.
"Holy Father, the Salesians, together with their pupils, past pupils and
Cooperators, are gathered before your throne today to bear witness to the
abundance ofHeavenly blessings which have been bestowed on the Society
of Blessed John Bosco in the Eternal City, mainly because of the benevo-
lent assistance of the Pope.
"Next to the Sacred Heart Church, which is involved in so many parish
activities, stands the Hospice, which gives shelter to four hundred boys and
a large contingent of seminarians who have come from different countries
to pursue their ecclesiastical studies in the Eternal City. Thanks to the
blessing and the assistance of the Holy Father, Pius X, the sons of Blessed
John Bosco were able to build another church, with a day school and a
Festive Oratory, in the new district of Testaccio. Additionally, in the same
area, the ancient church of St. Saba, with a parish and a Festive Oratory,
was also entrusted to the Salesians. Pius X also made a gift to them of the
lovely church of St. John of the Pigna, where our Procurator General
resides. Later, we opened the Mandrione's agricultural training school on
the outskirts of the city, for some hundred pupils.
"The other religious family of Blessed Don Bosco likewise experi-
enced the beneficial influence of living in close proximity to the chair of
St. Peter. As a matter of fact, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians
have nine houses, which display a great number of various activities on
behalf of hundreds, or rather, thousands of girls.
"At this time, the great professional schools, built in this city by the
Salesian Congregation with the paternal inheritance of a Salesian confrere,
have made fantastic progress. They were dedicated to the name of Your
Holiness, convinced that this closeness to the Pope would continue the
multiplication of Divine Blessings on all the works established in Rome,
and extend that benefit to all of Don Bosco' s other Houses, everywhere

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in the world. At the same time, a magnificent temple, consecrated to the
Heavenly Help of Christians, is now being built at the side of the Profes-
sional School.
"It was only proper that a lasting monument should be raised to com-
memorate the Pope, who in proclaiming our Founder Blessed and in stress-
ing his virtues on so many occasions, with his august voice has conferred
the greatest blessing of all on Don Bosco' s undertakings, and has given
to each one of us the assurance that by following Blessed Don Bosco's
footsteps, we are truly walking rightly along the road of his apostolate.
"In presenting to Your Holiness, as a humble homage, the already
mentioned professional schools, which after two years of intensive work
have been to a great extent completed, we renew, in the name ofDon Bosco,
our faithful and filial attachment to the Pope, and most particularly to the
august person of Your Holiness.
"Holy Father, bless our good intentions, and please accept our sincerest
wishes for your name day. In all our houses here in Rome, and everywhere
else in the world, fervent prayers will be said tomorrow, that God may keep
you, and grant prosperity and comfort to Your Holiness for the well being
of the Church, and the glory of the Roman Pontificate."
At the end of the reading, the Pope delivered a very affectionate speech.
After saying that just as the Father was appreciative of the homage ren-
dered by his children, so would the children be equally appreciative of the
praise rendered to them by the Father for the affectionate welcome expressed
through excellent concerts, songs and magnificent choir renditions, the Pope
added:
"It is enough to have heard, as We have just now, from your, or rather
Our, dear Father Peter Ricaldone, the sober, the sincere, and historic report
on fifty years of Salesian activity in Rome, to enable Us to understand why
all Don Bosco's spiritual family-the Salesians, the Daughters of Mary
Help of Christians, their pupils, their past pupils, and the Cooperators-has
a good reason to celebrate this jubilee of their beloved Don Bosco's
undertakings with well-justified, heartening contentment, and with a thrill
of "non-mendacious" joy, just as, you, dear children, have rightly sung.
"The qualifications of the report just read to us by the worthy Father
Ricaldone, namely; the qualifications of 'sober, sincere, and historic,' were
not by chance, inasmuch as he, in his honest listing of the undertakings and
activities, did not include one single word or allusion to the work, to the

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weariness, to the sacrifice and self-denial that these undertakings and
activities could have cost and certainly did cost.
"We have Our own special fond reasons for sharing in the sacred and
heartfelt joy provided by the fiftieth anniversary of the Salesian under-
takings in Rome, and Our reasons stem from the precious memories of
bygone days.
"For it was during the first year of Our priesthood that the Salesian
undertakings in Rome, which began with the magnificent church of the
Sacred Heart, first began to rise and take shape.
"It was also during the early days of our priesthood that, by the
goodness of Divine Providence, We made the personal acquaintance of
Blessed Don Bosco, in whose company We spent some days of joy and
consolation that can be properly evaluated only by the one who had that
divinely fortunate experience.
"At that time, Blessed Don Bosco was nearing the twilight of his
arduous life, and he already had a foretaste of the joy of the eternal reward
that awaited him in Heaven.
"There is also another reason why We share so wholeheartedly the
happiness common to all of you. After fifty years of active life which are
recalled vividly to Our mind by your presence, most beloved children, that
same ineffable goodness which has ordered all things so wisely, has granted
us to proclaim and decree the honors of the Altar for Blessed Don Bosco.
"Now, from the post to which Divine Providence has called Us, We
tum our eyes towards that immense harvest of good which, beginning from
Rome, now extends throughout the whole Catholic world.
"We therefore cannot help but direct our thoughts to all the thousands
of Don Bosco's sons and daughters who live here and there, scattered
among the different nations, who are concerned about furthering the works
pointed toward a Christian way of living successfully and productively.
"When We think about the hundreds of thousands of young souls all
over the world who found their way to the Salesians; when We picture with
our imagination this infinite array of Youth, recruited from all classes,
whom Don Bosco, with his example, with his faith, and with the apostolic
charity of his sons, still continues to educate, to guide along the path of
Christian living, to show the nobility of labor and the material and moral
rewards which they may rightly draw from it, and of which life has such
a great need; when We think about the endless, infinite vision of all these
people, of all the good done, We cannot help but thank Don Bosco and his

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sons for all the good work that they have done and are still doing, also on
behalf of Our glorious predecessor, and on behalf of that God who deigned
to call on Us to become His Vicar.
"The thought of an even greater future full of wondrous accomplish-
ments makes our heart smile and our spirit rejoice. It certainly cannot fail
to come true in light of such a resplendent past, and a present so rich in
assurances.
"Most beloved children, We are grateful to you for having wished to
link our own humble name with that of your venerated Don Bosco. We are
grateful to you for having connected that which you rightly consider your
own jubilee to that of the Pope, thus taking an active part in events that
concern Us personally, and for honoring Us on Our name day.
"We are particularly grateful to you for having wished to join the name
of the Pope with the new Professional School that, at the side of the church
of Mary Help of Christians, will be a center of multiform, beneficial and
Christian activities.
"We look on this new school as one of the fairest undertakings that
Divine Providence was pleased to begin during our Jubilee year, and so
we pray with a full heart to God, that He may bless this new school
generously, together with all the other Salesian undertakings which glorify
God, and bring salvation to mankind.
"As we think of all these wondrous, mighty endeavors, We are happy
to repeat a phrase which many people have heard expressed by us: 'Always
more, and always better.'
"Yet, as We now stand here to address Don Bosco' s sons and daughters,
We prefer to quote another remark that We heard your Blessed Founder
utter. When, in that first year of our priesthood, We congratulated Don Bosco
for the wonderful work he had begun, for the classrooms, for the work-
shops so well-equipped with the most advanced and modem tools of the
machine shops, our dear Blessed Don Bosco answered Us with the smiling,
kindly manner and keenness that were familiar to everyone who knew him:
'Ah! In such things Don Bosco always wants to be in the vanguard ofprogress!'
"The Salesians and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians should
always be, and should always aspire to be, 'in the vanguard of Progress.'
With this sure and consoling foresight, We impart our blessing to you, dear
children, to you who have come to request it from your Father in his house
which is your house, too, We extend this blessing not only to everyone who
is present here, but also to the others whom you so worthily represent. How
many might they be? There certainly must be an immense host in the world,

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countless in number, as countless as the sands of the seashore, everywhere.
The heart of Blessed Don Bosco was as immense as all the sands of the
seashores.
"With this worldwide vision of your houses, of your works, of your
apostolate, of your labor, and above all of you, the Salesians among whom
We give the place of honor to those who fight in the firing line of Faith-
that is, the Missionary Priests, Brothers, and Sisters-we are about to
impart our Apostolic Blessing, and full of hope, beg the Lord to bestow
on all of you the generous favors of Blessed Don Bosco, and his powerful
intercession."
The Pope made his own the words that Don Bosco had uttered about
being always in the vanguard of Progress, when he inaugurated a new
telephone power plant in Vatican City on November 19,1930. This plant
was a gift from the New York Telephone and Telegraph Corporation. As
he thanked the donors for their noble desire to give him something worthy
of the headquarters of the Vicar of Jesus Christ, he said that their intention
had added an extra something to the princely gift, to its elegance, its
usefulness, and perfection. He then went on: "This gift is in harmony with
Our way of thinking which was also the way of thinking of a very great
man, Blessed Don Bosco, who once was proud to say to the one who later
became the successor of St. Peter, that he always wanted to be in the
vanguard ofprogress. This was one of Don Bosco' s great merits, and We
often quote these very words, whenever, with the same thought in Our
mind, We wish to add something simple, but inspired by a worthwhile
purpose, to our small, yet great city."
Everyone knows that Don Bosco cultivated a great number of priestly
vocations for the Church, but we should also remember that he himself was
a model of scrupulous preparation for the priest's way of life, and for
priestly ministry. This is exactly what Pius XI singled out during an audi-
ence he had granted to the seminarians of the Major and Minor Pontifical
Seminaries of Rome. Before blessing them, he told them that he had
delightful souvenirs for them, to commemorate this memorable moment.
These souvenirs were the small medals which he was simultaneously
handing to the Cardinal Vicar, to be distributed among the seminarians in
the name of the Vicar of Jesus Christ. Those medals carried the likeness
of the Pope, which would have been for all the seminarians, the tender
image of the father [la dolce imagine paterna] as the poet puts it. Those
medals also carried the loving likeness of Don Bosco. He was depicted in

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the act of taking care of boys in their early adolescence, in the way in which
he alone was capable, and by which he led them all to God.
Then the Pope went on:
"And your youthfulness, which is directed toward God along a way
so high and with such sublime aspirations, finds in Blessed Don Bosco your
model, as you prepare for the priesthood, and also your model of life and
priestly ministry. In fact, Don Bosco cultivated priestly vocations in such
a manner that whatever he did in this regard is felt also today; rather it is
felt today more than ever before. We had occasion to observe him closely,
and we were edified both by what he did in terms of preparation for the
priesthood, and by what he did in his priestly ministry. We were allowed
to see things that not even all his sons had the good fortune to see. His
priestly preparation in holiness, in virtue, and in piety was obvious to all,
for it constituted the whole of his life. Every moment of his life was a
continuous act of charitable immolation, a constant act of prayerful recol-
lection. This is the most striking feature revealed from his conversation.
He was a man alert to everything that happened around him. People came
to see him from all sides, from European countries, from China, Africa,
and India. This person had one problem, that one had another. Yet, in the
twinkling of an eye, as if it required only an instant, he listened to every-
thing, he grasped the significance of everything, and had an answer for
everything, yet always with an air of sublime recollection. One would have
said that he paid no heed to anything that was said around him; one would
have said that his thoughts were entirely elsewhere, which, indeed, was
true. He was elsewhere. He was spiritually united with God, yet there he
stood, giving an answer to everybody. He always had ready the right word
to say to others, and to himself, in such a way as to cause wonderment.
At first, there was a feeling of surprise, and then of wonder. Don Bosco
did not restrict this life of holiness, of recollection, of continued prayer,
to the long hours of the night; he made it an integral part of all the
unceasing, relentless tasks that were his in his waking hours. Yet many
failed to notice his intellectual preparation, his scientific preparation, his
preparation for studies, and very many people do not have the slightest idea
of all that Don Bosco did, nor of all that was devoted to studying. He had
studied a lot, and he continued to study for so long a time, and to plunge
into the most extensive areas of study. One day he told us something he
had never confided to anyone-but he thought he should confide it to
someone who was involved with books and the library: he had in mind a

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vast plan of studies, and also a vast plan for work, in the field of ecclesi-
astical historiography. He then added: 'But I realized that God had called
me to follow another path; perhaps I did not have the right equipment of
mind, of intellect, of memory.' He therefore decided to devote himself to
a life of charity, to the works of charity, committing himself to lavishing
on others all the treasures, all the wealth of learning that he had accumu-
lated for himself. This explains why he was able to pen all the wonderful
books that he wrote, especially for young readers. These books were not
scientifically lofty, yet they were suited to every kind of mind, so that they
would be likely to attain the goals that the great Apostle had in mind."
The Pope glorified Don Bosco once again, and in an extraordinary way,
on July 9, 1933, when the Decree on the heroicity of the virtues of Dominic
Savio was read out in his presence. It would be impossible to single out
the individual portions of his speech that contain words of praise of Don
Bosco. On the other hand, the glorification of the disciple shed so much
praise on the master that the whole address may justifiably be included in
its entirety in this chapter. Since the Pope made frequent references both
directly and indirectly, to the address that had previously been delivered
by the Rector Major, Father Peter Ricaldone, we are reproducing his
address, too, in its entirely. The following is Father Ricaldone' s address:
"Most Blessed Father:
"Prostrate at the feet of Your Holiness, the Salesian family is happy
to proffer the most fervent thanks to God and to His Vicar, for the grace
that has been granted with the promulgation of the Decree, and which
acknowledges that the Servant of God has practiced his virtues to a heroic
degree. Dominic Savio was a pupil of Blessed Don Bosco at the Oratory
of St. Francis of Sales in Turin.
"When we consider that Dominic Savio attained this degree of per-
fection at a tender age in the school of our Blessed Father and teacher, when
we see the wonderful results provided by the educational system which
Don Bosco inaugurated in a holy manner, and has bequeathed as a legacy
to his sons, when we see these results resplendent with mighty and vibrant
light in the person of this young man who is the finest fruit and the most
solemn sanction of that educational method, then we are indeed comforted
and encouraged in the daily round of our modest educational work.
"Those means which were used by Don Bosco to direct an educational
work, to develop the supernatural life in a boy and in an adolescent, as a
Christian educator should, and as Your Holiness has so wisely clarified and
explained in the Encyclical Divini Illius, all those means are sufficiently

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capable not only of producing sure fruits of ordinary goodness, but also
of helping young souls climb to the highest heights of Christian sanctity.
It is true that in this case this process was rendered easier by the rare,
heavenly gifts with which the man, who was to be known later as the 19th
century Apostle of Youth, was endowed. Yet it was no less true that he
blazed a trail, which will always lead to the same goal, provided that people
perseveringly stay the course and have the same spirit. But we recognize
the bright features of the Father's likeness in this young disciple from
another perspective.
"Blessed Don Bosco lived in close spiritual union with God, and his
life was one of apostolic zeal and total self-sacrifice. We are deeply moved
and edified to find now in young Dominic that same constant habit ofprayer
and diligence in trying to keep his classmates, and not only them, away
from evil, and to encourage them to pursue virtue. Dominic Savio had an
indomitable spirit of generosity in enduring vexations, hardships, even
ill-treatment, if only he could thereby promote the glory of God, wage war
on sin, and keep scandal at bay! The program for living that is summed
up in the words: Prayer, Action, Sacrifice which Your Holiness never
wearies of repeating to all the laymen who volunteer their services on
behalf of the Ecclesiastical hierarchy, marvelously sums up the spirit of this
short, yet so fruitful, a life.
"We have always treasured our good fortune for having known, and
appreciated since our early adolescence, the virtues and the example of
Dominic Savio. We were told about them by men who had been his teachers
in school, or his companions during the years he lived at the Oratory. All
of them declared that he was a living model of the greatest virtues. But
today our jubilation is complete, because our admiration for him has now
been sanctioned by the august decree of Your Holiness.
"Most Blessed Father, may I have the honor of conveying to you the
devoted thanks of all the Salesians, at this solemn moment which is sacred
to us all, for this wonderful grace, and may I assure you that we shall
endeavor to imitate more earnestly than ever before, this glorious model
of fidelity, by following in the footsteps of our Blessed Founder, with the
comforting certainty that, by so doing, we shall surely progress in the
direction indicated to us by the hand of Christ's Vicar.
"With these heartfelt feelings I kneel before you and implore your
Apostolic Blessing on all the Salesians, their pupils, the Cooperators, the
past pupils, and the family of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians."

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With keen attention, the Pope followed all that Fr. Peter Ricaldone said.
He recollected himself for a moment and then he uttered the following
address:
"Don Bosco, that great figure, is coming back among us, dear children;
yes, he is coming back and he is almost coming here to accompany and
personally introduce and hand to us his little, or rather his great, pupil, the
Venerable Dominic Savio. It seems as though We are again seeing the great
Servant of God, just as We saw him, exactly as We saw him, surrounded
by his pupils and co-workers. This is one of the favors that We consider
great, among all the favors granted to us by the goodness of God.
"Wonderful indeed in the designs of God, in designs set up by Divine
Providence, wonderful indeed is the return of Don Bosco among us, as he
introduces this fruit, among the first fruits, among the most beautiful fruits,
he introduces this most beautiful fruit, and we could say, the most exquisite
fruit, of his educative work, of his apostolic work; for his entire life and
all his work was always an apostolate. The spirit of the apostolate per-
meated his whole existence. It had been imbibed with that determination
which was succinctly and fully summed up in those words, in that word
which was his password, inherited so faithfully later on by his faithful sons:
da mihi animas, coetera tolle.
"His return among us is indeed providential when we think about the
conditions in which we find today's youth, and we could say all the world,
when we think about all the dangers and all the evil devices used to ensnare
the purity of youth, when we think about the turmoil their life is entangled
in and about the excessive emphasis on the cult of the body, of physical
strength, when we think about the cult of worldly development, of material
and physical fitness, as they say, when we think of education, we could say,
to violence, to the rejection of respect for everyone and everything, and,
mind you, all this is said by those who are guided solely by considerations
linked with a purely human pedagogy. When We therefore think about
these conditions in which young people live today, about these dangers that
beset them at every tum, when We think about this deplorable apostolate
(if We may apply such a term here), the apostolate of corruption carried
out so actively and with such a terrible and evil-oriented readiness by
means of the press, of a press easily adapting itself to any situation and to
all age levels, when We think about this display, which is continuous,
universal, almost unavoidable for those who live with it, when We think
about this display of things which are not only unedifying, but which are

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really provocative and inciting to evil, when We think that even the most
beautiful and genial discoveries of science, which should be used only in
the apostolate of the good, in the spread of truth and goodness, are actually
abused, when We think about all these things and about the degree they
have already reached in our present day, then we certainly have good reason
to give thanks to God and to Divine Providence which calls forth and
reveals in a luminous radiance, the edifying figure of this pious, holy youth.
We have a very good reason to be deeply and in a special way grateful to
God, for the holiness, for the perfection of Christian life, found in this youth
who did not enjoy any of the powerful advantages which might have
facilitated the accomplishment of great things. He was poor, a humble son
of poor and unpretentious folks, of very modest parents. He was rich solely
in Christian aspirations of a Christian life, lived in the most humble of
conditions, in the exercise of a most average life, in the fulfillment of the
normal duties of commonplace life. This is the boy who did not spend his
early years in a garden especially protected, as the Decree already stated,
but he lived his early years in the world, and then in that place which Divine
Providence had assigned to him, in the midst of those young people who
were gathered, formed and reformed and sanctified by Don Bosco. These
young people, however, were a mixture of good boys and bad, of good
elements and elements not so good. That was the secret of Don Bosco, who
at times chose to deal with elements not so good, to the great astonishment
of those who did not share his own great faith in God, nor his belief in the
fundamental goodness of God's creatures. It was Don Bosco's secret to
deal with everyone, to broaden the horizons of his activity, to stretch out
his hand and reach out to everyone, only in order to draw good from evil,
as God does with His hand.
"But returning to the new Venerable, this is what We easily notice first.
This adolescent's life which would end at the age of 15-this life which
was called the life of a spiritual giant, at only 15-this life was inspired
by the example of Don Bosco at whose school he rapidly matured. At the
age of 15 he had already reached a true and genuine perfection in his
Christian way of life; he possessed all the qualities, which We now need
to hold up as an example to contemporary Youth, for his was indeed a
perfect Christian life. And the perfection of his Christian life was complete,
as it was comprised essentially-ifwe wish to sum up its basic features-of
purity, of piety, of the Apostolate, of Spirit and of apostolic activity.
"His spotless, angelic purity, inspired by the Most Holy Virgin Mary,
the source of inspiration for all levels of purity, was protected with utmost

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vigilance. First of all, this purity was protected by the vigilance of his
parents, and later by the vigilance of the Blessed Servant of God and his
co-workers; this purity was shielded, always shielded, as though instinc-
tively, with a continuous aspiration towards being pure, with a continuous
and most noble need to be pure, to the point that anything which might have
appeared to endanger even remotely the sincerity of his purity, would
awaken in his little, or rather his great soul, all the capacities to be attentive
and to act as faithful guardians of purity. Purity is the first condition, the
premise required to have other Divine gifts, to have the gift of the finest
vocations. Purity is the love of Mary; purity is the love of God; purity is
the love of her Divine son, of the Divine Redeemer; purity is the perfume
that opens the heart of God and which turns out to be most appreciated.
Purity deserves a splendid banner, unsoiled, to be raised high for all young
people to see.
"We almost might believe that this fine little Servant of God made his
own the words attributed by Divine Wisdom to the soul in quest of purity:
And as I knew that I could not otherwise be continent and pure, except God
gave it, I went to the Lord, and besought Him for this treasure. This is why
the purity of the Venerable Dominic Savio was always assisted by a great
spirit of piety, for in him piety acted as the guardian of his purity. His piety
was made up of prayer, of devotion to the Blessed Virgin, of devotion to
the Blessed Sacrament, of a sublime understanding, uniting all the ingre-
dients of purity to go hand-in-hand with his piety. With his prayer of the
spirit went another form of prayer, the prayer which we might describe as
the prayer of the flesh, the special prayer of the flesh, the prayer of the body,
as it was so well described, the prayer of the body renewed by the spirit.
And this prayer is the practice of Christian penance which, as though
instinctively, is aware of the possible complicity of the body, of the flesh,
of all that might offend purity, of the dangers laid for purity; and it runs
for shelter almost by instinct, by the same instinct by which the lamb
preserves itself from the onslaught of the wolf, against the power of an
enemy.
"The whole life of Dominic Savio was a life of prayer and of penance;
though this form of penance was not the one carried to the harsh extremes
documented in the history of the Saints, yet it was a genuine penance,
nonetheless. It was, in fact, a kind of penance of a most instructive kind,
beneficial to everyone, especially to youth, for his form of penance is
accessible to all. Substantially, this penance consisted in the exercise of
continuous vigilance, in the exercise of self-control, in the exercise of the

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superiority of the spirit over matter, the controlling power of the nobler
parts of man over his less noble parts. In a word, it consists in asserting
the authoritative power of the soul, the power of that which is called to
command over what is called to obey. The spirit of penance is most
precious, since it is the one which by itself can ward off so many dangers,
and by itself exercises nobly and efficaciously the best energies of soul and
spirit. Additionally, it teaches the body, it teaches the less noble part of man
what it needs to do, what contribution it should make, not to render the
attainment of virtue difficult, but to render its exercise and activity easier
and more meritorious.
"Besides all this, considered as a supernaturally natural preparation,
Dominic Savio' s life was animated by an apostolic spirit which lasted his
entire life-the life of this little and great Christian. We purposely said that
it was a supernaturally natural preparation because, in fact and in essence,
this is the natural tendency of what is good: to spread out, to expand, to
have its benefits shared as widely as possible, especially where the need
is more visible and where its absence is more visible. This tendency was
most evident in this dear young man.
"He was a little, yet a great apostle on all occasions. He was very
attentive in capitalizing on these occasions, in creating them, in responding
apostolically to them, from a formal teaching of catechism and Christian
practices up to a cordial participation in the amusements proper to youth,
and only with the goal of bringing everywhere a touch of goodness, an
invitation to goodness.
"Herein lies his true, providential message for our own day and age.
This is what We constantly have proclaimed and insisted upon, for our
youth to hear. And our youth have responded to our appeal with noble
enthusiasm in all countries of the world; we are delighted to point this out
with a very deep sense of gratitude to God and men. This is the dear youth,
which is responding to our appeal to be part of the Catholic Action move-
ment, which wants to be and should be nothing other than the proper
participation of the laity in the hierarchical apostolate.
"In order to be such, in order to be able to follow this way oflife, our
young people require a deeper and a more conscious, more thorough for-
mation as concerns Christian life, Christian conscience, the spirit of piety,
as concerns their participation in the devotion of the church, that is, a con-
tinuous act of prayer and union with God. This response is so vast and so
precious in its richness, that it truly fills our heart with the deepest gratitude
and opens our spirit to the most beautiful hopes-not only ours and those

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of the Church, of our Holy Religion, but, out of fortunate necessity, also
the hopes, the sure promises for the family, for society, for the whole of
mankind.
"It is true. We have constantly called on these good young people to
rally under the glorious banner of prayer, action, and sacrifice, for it is with
prayer and with sacrifice that we prepare ourselves for action; it is with
prayer, inspired by piety, with sacrifice which is interior and personal first
of all, with a sacrifice which is always rooted in a spirit of penance, in
Christian mortification; this is the way, this is the only way, by which we
can prepare ourselves for successful action in this apostolate. And this
action cannot be carried out by relying on purely human devices, however
high and generous, but only by relying on the Divine Help which it abso-
lutely needs, and which cannot be obtained otherwise. That is why we have
to go back once again to the figure of the great Servant of God, to Blessed
Don Bosco, the teacher of young Dominic Savio. We have to go back to
that great figure just as we have seen him so closely and not for a fleeting
moment-we have to go back to Don Bosco in exactly the way his little
pupil has represented him with his own life and in the events of his short
existence: a continuous consuming zeal to work apostolically, to exercise
a missionary activity, truly missionary even within the four walls of a single
room, truly missionary activity among the children and young boys, among
the adolescents who surrounded him continually; a spirit of zeal, ofdiligent
action, yet with all this zeal, a truly remarkable spirit of recollection, of
serenity, ofcalmness, a calmness not related to mere silence, but a calmness
which was the habitual companion of the true spirit of union with God, to
the point that it was possible to see through it a continuous attention to
something which was perceived and entertained by his soul: the presence
of God, a union with God. Exactly in this way. In addition to all this,
Dominic had an heroic spirit of mortification, of genuine penance-which,
even in its most intense meaning, was abundantly satisfied by his life
constantly dedicated to doing good to others, and always unmindful of
personal advantages, always heedless to taking the slightest amount of
rest-it was abundantly satisfied by the fact that his life was entirely a true
life of penance, not merely of mortification, but of genuine penance, an
apostolic penance.
"We have found some of these things in our personal recollections, but
We have found even more of them in the most lovable inspirations provided
by the short, yet most noble, life of the Venerable Servant of God, Dominic
Savio. These features, these examples, these great descriptions are always

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the basic, essential bounds of the life marked out with gigantic strokes by
the hand of God. Fundamentally, what are these elements? They are the
elements of Christian life, of a Christian life not lived in any which way,
as so many people decide to do, but with generous fidelity to principle, with
delicate concern and with a far from negligent attitude. It is truly an
unworthy attitude to serve the Lord, who is so good, to serve the Redeemer
who is so generous, in a negligent fashion. As We recently had occasion
to remark during an audience granted to a handful of devoted pilgrims,
Christian life should not be lived in an intermittent or fragmentary com-
pliance with the precepts, the teachings, and the examples of our divine
Redeemer and Master, and of His better disciples, like the disciple whom
we look at today with admiration. Instead, Christian life should be lived
with a spirit of noble exactness. This is Christian life, and it is already much
if We describe it as such, for the word expresses infinite riches. Yet today,
many people live a Christian life which bears no signs of being truly
Christian; it is void of really diligent concern and generosity such as
responding to the examples, teachings and wishes of our Divine master.
How needed are these examples of a precise Christian way of life! How
needed today are Christian lives which are both diligent and generous, just
as the heart of God, the Heart of our Redeemer, want them to be. Such a
reflection as this is all the more appropriate in the providential, magnificent
and encouraging passage of the Holy Year of Our Redemption we are now
in. The wonderful event that we celebrate and commemorate so gratefully,
after nineteen centuries, should be such as to produce in us good fruits. It
should do this by nourishing our true Christian way of living, which is the
end result of our Divine Redemption. This Christian way of living was
handed to us by the arms of the Son of God, stretched out on the cross.
"The world knew nothing of such a life; the world knew only the life
lived by pagans, with all its errors and horrors. As soon as this Christian
life commenced, it flowered instantly, miraculously, with heavenly beauty,
with celestial splendor; it flowered right from its earliest years in the
children whom our Divine Redeemer caressed and embraced, and it spread
to the Tarcisiuses of all ages, up to this new Venerable Servant of God.
''This is the gift, the great gift, the full gift of Redemption. Redemption
is always the same, yet it is manifested by the different degrees of perfec-
tion to which the hand of God is able to take it, for this is the divine
perfection, however unattainable in its fullness, this is the perfection which
is proposed to us. And such perfection is the Christian life shown by a
humble faithful person, even by the least of the faithful, in the most modest

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degree, just as the Christian life is exemplified by outstanding, magnificent,
gigantic figures as the ones mentioned in biographies of the saints of all
ages. This is the Christian life; this is that immense treasure which We bear
as a gift within us from the moment of our Baptism. It is at Baptism, at
that blessed hour of our Baptism, that we began to live this life and we
continue carrying it within us, in our bodies, in our souls. There is an
appeal, a continuous one, an incessant one, which comes from within. We
should take advantage of so precious a gift; we should not let it lie inactive
and neglected, and leave it unprotected, thus showing our incompetence.
We should instead take advantage of this magnificent treasure with stead-
fast determination; we should take advantage of this treasure that we
possess in generous measure and which is found exactly in that blood
which our Divine Redeemer has paid as a price: namely, the price paid with
His Blood, with His Life, and with His Cross.
"We now wish, first of all, to join our joy to the joy of Don Bosco' s
family, or rather the joy of the families of the Blessed Don Bosco, so
worthily and abundantly represented here today, and which are so plenti-
fully and worthily represented all over the world. Only yesterday, We read
something about the recent efforts of the Salesian Apostolate in regions
heretofore inaccessible and not yet entered into. 1 We extend our congratu-
lations to both of your religious families, and to all those who share in their
work and assist them, either by prayer or by material contributions."
There were echoes of Don Bosco's beatification in speeches made by
the Pope on two important occasions. The first of these was an audience
granted on October 2, 1933, to 150 Dutch Cooperators. They had gone to
Rome to gain the indulgence of the Holy Year proclaimed in commemo-
ration of the 19th anniversary of our Redemption. On their journey they
had visited Turin and the birthplace of Don Bosco. The Pope expressed
pleasure over the visit of his dear children from the small country of
Holland, which had, nevertheless, so distinguished itself by zealous apos-
tolic work in the Missions, and in the ranks of Catholic Action. He then
added in a kindly tone: "Your visit to us is all the more welcome because
you come to us in the name of Blessed Don Bosco, a name dear to all
Catholics, just as are his providential works; a name especially dear to Us
because Divine Providence has placed Don Bosco among those whom We
had the good fortune to know and whose benevolence we have shared. And
1 His Holiness was probably referring to an article that had appeared in the July issue of the Salesian Bulletin
(p. 215) entitled "The new Mission in Saharanpur."

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also because Divine Providence has chosen Us to raise him to the first
honors of the altar, and We hope to do even more than this, with the help
of God." He then rapidly sketched the program of the Salesian Cooperator,
"Which is to cooperate with Jesus Christ in His work of Redemption, in
His work of saving souls, exactly according to the program of Don Bosco,
whose motto was: Da mihi animas." He further explained the meaning of
the motto. "The words Da mihi animas, coetera tolle with which the
Founder of the Salesians summed up his resolve to guide souls to a life of
grace, are the same as those with which our Savior summed up His entire
mission of Redemption, through which souls were to attain to a fuller
measure of life. This wonderful and faithful correspondence of Don
Bosco's programs with the program of the Redeemer, should inspire all his
sons to labor zealously and enthusiastically, so that they might fulfill this
program in themselves, and then extend it to others, for this is the main
objective of this Holy Year."
The second occasion was an audience granted by the Holy Father to
the pupils of the Salesian school of Frascati, on October 27th, when they
went to Rome to gain the jubilee indulgence. "You have a very special
claim on Us," the Pope told them, "for you come in the name of Don
Bosco, who was particularly dear to Us even before the world called him
Blessed. When We hear his name, We do not think of him only as a great
Servant of God whom We, by a singular fortune, or rather by the grace of
God, raised to the first honors of the Altar, and whom We hope and expect
to raise to higher honors, but also we think of him as an old acquaintance,
We were about to say, as a fatherly friend, when during the first years of
Our priesthood, We spent some time in his company. So you may imagine
how happy We are to see you and greet you. There is yet another reason
why you are so dear to Us. You came to celebrate this extraordinary Jubilee
which We proclaimed for the entire world, in commemoration of this
nineteenth anniversary of our Redemption. As Don Bosco's pupils, you
should make a particular reflection. The treasure which you receive every-
day comes to you directly from the cross, and it is the treasure ofa Christian
education. The sum total of the fruits of Christ's Redemption is to be found
within a Christian way of life, which way the world had lost. It was
reinvented by Jesus Christ, who brought it to us from heaven, and gave it
to us in His name. You should remember that you possess the full wealth
of this way of life, even to the point of luxury. Remember that every tiny
fragment of this life given to you every day is a drop of the Precious Blood
of Our Lord."

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The Holy Father was obviously pleased on both of these occasions, to
refer to Don Bosco's forthcoming and hoped-for canonization. Divine
Providence had destined this Pope, who had beatified Don Bosco, to
joyfully reach another goal, as we shall describe next.

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The Cause Is Resumed
The Triumph of the Beatification, the worldwide celebrations that
followed it, the extraordinary spiritual benefits drawn from them, the
steady increase of devotion to Don Bosco, and the exceptional growth of
prodigious events obtained through his intercession, all helped to encour-
age an application for the resumption of Don Bosco's 'Cause'. The word
'Cause' is the one officially used to describe the reopening of the 'Cause'
of one who has been beatified, prior to his canonization, and the subsequent
permanent and universal cult.
The word canonization stems from the word canon, a Greek word that
etymologically stands for 'rule'. It has been used with several different conno-
tations in the Church, such as the 'Catalogue or list ofinspired books,' and
from the 12th century on, also the 'Catalogue or list of Saints.' By the
solemn act of canonization, the Pope declares that those already beatified
now reign in eternal glory, and he therefore orders that the universal church
render to them the cult of veneration. This order falls within the perimeters
of the infallible teaching of the Roman Pontiff, since he defines and issues
an order as Head of the universal Church, and by virtue of the power given
to him by Jesus Christ whose Vicar he is. In a word, we are dealing with
a definition ex cathedra [from the chair of Peter].
The Postulator, Father Francis Tomasetti, did not waste any time. He
rightly interpreted and complied with the wishes of the Rector Major and
the Salesian Superiors. As a matter of fact, he filed a petition with the
Sacred Congregation of Rites early in 1930, asking for the resumption of
the Cause, and that it be discussed in one of the forthcoming, ordinary
sessions of that Congregation. His wish was graciously heard and favorably
responded to, as it is evidenced by a formal answer issued on February 10,
1930, by the Sacred Congregation of Rites.
What was needed was a number of postulatory letters from persons in
authority, in support of the petition that had to be presented to the Holy
Father, so that he might sign the decree ordering the resumption of the
Cause. In a short time, he got together more letters than he actually needed,
but out of the many letters he had collected he submitted only twelve, those

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he considered most important. These letters were from the Cardinals Gas-
parri, Hlond, Schuster, and Capotosti from the Salesian Archbishop, Guerra,
from two Salesian Bishops, Olivares and Emanuel, from a theologian named
Benna who was a Capitular Vicar of Turin, from the Rector Major, Father
Philip Rinaldi, from Reverend Mother Vaschetti, the Mother General of the
Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and from Count Rebaudengo, who
wrote his letter in the name of all the Salesian Cooperators. There was also
a letter from Masera, the attorney who represented the International Federa-
tion of Don Bosco's past-pupils. Bishop Della Coppa and the Commenda-
tore Melandri, who were respectively the Advocate and the Procurator of
the Cause, together with the Postulator, Father Francis Tomasetti, submit-
ted the petition, with relative documents, to the Holy Father through the
Sacred Congregation of Rites.
The Sacred Congregation examined the petition and added documents
at its ordinary session on June 17th, to ascertain whether or not the rec-
ommendation should be proposed to have the Pope sign the commission,
or mandate, which was requested. The Cardinals cast a vote in favor of such
a recommendation. The Holy Father endorsed their decision, and the next
day a decree to that effect was issued, a decree showing a great respect for
the Salesian Society. This decree emphasized the more outstanding high-
lights of Don Bosco's beatification, and described the Pope's solemn
entrance into St. Peter's Basilica on the afternoon of June 2, 1929, with
the enthusiastic welcome given him by the congregation cumflorentissimis
institutis amatissimi Patris legiferi Beati Joannis Bosco [with the very
flourishing institutions of the most Beloved Father and lawgiver Blessed
John Bosco]. The editor of the text, still feeling the impact of that recol-
lection, exclaimed Mirabile spectaculum Ecclesiae militanti et triumphanti
gratum et iucundum! [A wonderful spectacle, a joyful and a pleasant one
both for the triumphant and militant Church]. The decree was signed by
the Prefect, Cardinal Laurenti, and the Secretary, Bishop Carinci.
In order that a Cause may be resumed, two miracles must be submitted
and examined. In Don Bosco' s Cause, the Postulator submitted data relating
to two cases of miraculous recovery which had occurred in Rimini and
Innsbruck. Upon receipt of the letters, the Curiae in both these dioceses
instituted the processes regarding the two miracles, and sent their reports
to Rome in October 1931 when the work had been completed. Immedi-
ately, the Postulator filed a petition with the Ponens, or Relator, Cardinal

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Verde, asking him to invite the Sacred Congregation of Rites to pass judg-
ment on their validity. After the documents had been examined, and the
above-mentioned Cardinal had made his report, the Committee issued an
affirmative vote on April 12, 1932, which was approved and ratified a week
later by the Holy Father, Pius XI. This was followed by an investigation
and by the opinions of medical experts appointed by the Sacred Congre-
gation, to express their legal and medical judgment on the facts. In tum,
the Promoter of the Faith, Bishop Natucci, drew up a twofold series of
objections against the supernatural character of both cases based on the
findings of the investigation and the medical reports.
The Advocate for the Cause answered these objections in detail. Then
the summaries of the legal processes, with the relative documents, the
medical reports of the experts, the objections advanced by the Promoter
of the Faith, and the answers given by the Advocate, formed the Positio,
which was printed. It was then distributed to the Cardinals, Officers, and
Consultants of the Congregation of Rites on July 12, 1932, in anticipation
of the work to be done by three Congregations, of which we already have
spoken in connection with Don Bosco' s beatification.
Before going any further, we should give a brief account of the second
miraculous cure. Rudolf Hirch, of Innsbruck, had graduated in medicine
and specialized in the treatment and cure of people affected with tuber-
culosis. He himself had been affected by this disease. At first he seemed
to have recovered, thanks to careful, protracted treatment. Thereupon, he
resumed his work for a period of a year, more or less, up to the end of 1928,
when he suffered a relapse and the consumptive pulmonary process became
more acute. On May 13, 1929, he felt so drained of strength that he was
forced to enter a sanatorium. Every remedy used, including the pneumo-
thorax failed completely. The radioscopy revealed a large cavity of tuber-
culous origin in his lung. At this time, a Salesian Seminarian who today
is a priest, Father Joseph Divina, urged this young man's mother-in-law
to begin a novena to Don Bosco. She began it on May 15th and ended it
on May 24th, the feast of Mary Help of Christians. The patient, his own
immediate family circle, his wife's relatives, and the Salesians of the
school of Treviglio, took part in this novena. During the last few days of
the novena, the sick man held a relic of Don Bosco (a drop of his blood
on a piece of cotton wool) against his chest, above the diseased lung.
Shortly after, the doctors attending him were astonished by the findings of
a radioscopic examination, and on the 24th their amazement was bound-
less. Despite his long confinement to bed, they saw that the patient was able

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to get up without difficulty, and drive by car to the clinic. At the clinic, the
radiologists could not find any trace of the cavity in the lung, and the other
symptoms had likewise disappeared. Examination of his phlegm, which
had hitherto been positive, was now negative, and remained negative
thereafter. His general condition of health improved rapidly. Eminent spe-
cialists in Innsbruck and Vienna, who were acquainted with his case, could
not believe their eyes when they saw the sudden change in him. In October
1929, Dr. Hirch resumed his former work, without suffering any physical
disturbance, even during periods of excessive overwork. After a period of
three years, the doctors confirmed his total and definitive recovery.
One of the specialists who had been appointed to give his medical opin-
ion on the miracle, raised objections against it. However, during the Anti-
Preparatory Congregation held by the Consultants, and presided over by
the Cardinal Ponens, the objections were refuted, and the Congregation
cast a unanimously favorable vote. Everyone thought that there would now
be no further delay in the normal procedure of the Cause, especially since
a famous specialist ofpulmonary disease, Prof. Micheli ofTurin, had demon-
strated the inconsistency, not to say the downright stupidity. of the objec-
tions raised, as soon as he was given a confidential report on them. Nevertheless,
in matters such as these, even the slightest shade of a doubt as to the authen-
ticity of a miracle is usually sufficient to rule it out completely. Because
of this, the Pope, informed by Father Francis Tomasetti, advised that it
would be better to submit another miracle. So it was decided to present the
miraculous cure that had taken place in Turin in the month of May, 1931,
by the bier where the mortal remains of Don Bosco rested. The lady who
had been miraculously cured lived in the diocese of Bergamo. Therefore,
only that Curia was competent to conduct the customary process. This caused
a delay, since it took nearly nine months to go through; then a second anti-
preparatory Congregation was necessary.
The three Congregations-the Anti-Preparatory, the Preparatory, and
the General-are always held on a Tuesday, though this does not mean that
such Congregations meet every Tuesday of the year. Since there are always
several Causes in progress, at the beginning of the year, after due con-
sultation with the individual Postulators, the Secretariat of the Sacred
Congregation of Rites publishes a chronological list of all the Congrega-
tions due to take place, from the autumn to the summer vacation of the
following year. If any Congregation concludes with a negative vote, and
thus has to be repeated, the Postulation concerned loses its tum. But, in
the event that some other Postulation is not fully prepared by the time its

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turn is due, the Postulation that has lost its turn may take its place. This
occurred in the case of Don Bosco, and accelerated the rhythm of the cycle
of Congregations that had to investigate his miracles. A second Positio was
prepared, and on May 9, 1933, the second Anti-Preparatory Congregation
was held. Several new objections advanced in connection with the earlier
miracle submitted-that of Rimini-were clarified, after which the Con-
sultants discussed the miracle which had been submitted in substitution for
the one of Innsbruck, and a favorable vote was cast in regard to both. On
July 25th, a little more than two months later, the Positio was ready, and
so the Preparatory Congregation could be held in the Vatican, with the
intervention of Cardinals, Officials and Consultors. Their conclusive vote
was affirmative. Father Tomasetti had the Novissima Positio prepared with
the utmost care, and submitted it for the final discussion, but the Assistant
Promoter of the Faith was unable to submit his Approval for printing with
equal rapidity. Nevertheless, since the Holy Father was anxious to dispense
with any further delay, the General Congregation met in his presence on
November 14th, prior to the end of the year. The outcome of it was that,
after praying to God for enlightenment, the Holy Father gave orders to
prepare the Decree of approval, and set as the date, Sunday, the 19th of
November, for the official proclamation.
As a rule, ceremonies of this type are carried out in three phases. First
of all, the Secretary of the Congregation of Rites reads out the decree in
the presence of the Pope seated on his throne; then the person best qualified
in the Order, Congregation, or Diocese to which the Servant of God in
question belonged, reads a brief address to the Pope; then His Holiness
delivers an address.
The Decree was read out that Sunday morning in the Hall of the Consis-
tory, which was crowded with spectators. Naturally, both the Prefect of the
Congregation of Rites, Cardinal Laurenti, and the Ponens of the Cause,
Cardinal Verde, were present. Along with the Italian Prelates, Castro, the
South American Archbishop of Costa Rica, and Lamy, French Bishop of
Meaux, were prominent. The Rector Major of the Salesians, Father Peter
Ricaldone, sat with the members of his Chapter in a seat of honor, next to
the Postulator and the Advocates for the Cause. At the bidding of the Master
of Ceremonies, Bishop Carinci approached the papal throne, and at the
invitation extended by the Prefect of Ceremonies and after the permission
was granted by the Holy Father, he read out the Decree, which began with
the words of the Gospel for that 24th Sunday after Pentecost. This is the
Italian translation:

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"The words of today's Gospel remind us of, and invite us to meditate
on, the words used by Jesus Christ, the Divine Founder of the Church, when
he foresaw the future growth of the Church: The Kingdom of Heaven is
like a grain ofmustard seed.... This is the smallest of all the seeds; but
when it grows . . . it becomes a tree, so that the birds ofthe air come and
dwell in its branches. (Matt 13:31-32). This humble quality has always
characterized the early beginnings of all those works which come from
God. The more wonderful the development ordained by Divine Provi-
dence, the more outstanding is the humble aspect of their beginning. This
is the thought which spontaneously comes to our mind, every time we start
thinking about where and how the magnificent educational undertaking of
Blessed Don Bosco came into existence. We are caught up in wonderment
when we see how rapidly this undertaking expanded; how it flourished and
prospered in all parts of the world.
"You would have seen a humble, poorly dressed priest, still young in
years, with an open and cheerful countenance. You would have seen him
entertaining with games and amusements, in an almost deserted meadow
on the outskirts of Turin, the children of working classes, who had been
abandoned in the streets. You would have seen him gather these youngsters
in a kind of miserable shelter, and teach religion with sweet and persuasive
words and then draw them to piety with an amazing technique.
"Previously he had been driven out of other districts. He had been
already persecuted in various ways. He was poor and despised by so
many-but God had destined him to achieve marvelous things. And Don
Bosco, roaming like a pilgrim, 'Without a roof, finally found a miserable
shelter for his children, in that suburban area ofTurin, then called Valdocco.
"The divine fire of charity was burning within his heart and he was
about to translate into concrete reality the wondrous work God had destined
for him. Today, everyone is aware of the benefits which have accrued from
his work, and of how the two religious families that he has founded have
developed. Yet the mind is hardly able to conceive, and words are inad-
equate to describe, the tremendous and tiring work of this great Apostle,
his spiritual strength, and his ever-enduring patience when confronted with
difficulties of all kinds.
"He was born, the son of humble parents, at Castelnuovo d' Asti on
August 16, 1815, and he died in Turin on January 31, 1888.
"Among other holy men, who had been called upon by God at a stormy
time, when all nations were affected by revolutions and were spellbound

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by the enticements of a new age, at a time when the Church was greatly
persecuted, Blessed Don Bosco truly stood up ut gigas ad currendum viam
[as a trailblazing giant].
"He was renowned for his holiness; he was glorified by God with won-
drous miracles after his death, and so he was listed among the Beatified
by His Holiness, Pius XI, on June 2, 1929. The following year, the Cause
for his Canonization was resumed, and two miraculous cures were investi-
gated during the course of the Apostolic Process in Rimini and Innsbruck.
In April of last year, their validity was acknowledged by a Decree of the
Sacred Congregation of Rites. The debate on these two miracles continued
in the Anti-Preparatory Congregation held on July 16, 1932, in the pres-
ence of His Eminence Cardinal Verde, the Ponens, or Relator of the Cause.
The alleged miracle ofInnsbruck was set aside, while another miracle, which
had occurred at Bergamo, became the object of an Apostolic Process. This
year, in February, its authenticity was confirmed by an Apostolic Decree.
The merits ofthis miracle were discussed during the Anti-Preparatory Con-
gregation, over which the Cardinal Ponens presided. Since a few aspects
of the first miracle mentioned above required further clarification, a supple-
mentary process was added to the initial one.
"The first cure happened in Rimini. During the month of October 1930,
Anna Maccolini was stricken by an attack of bronchial-pneumonia, which
lasted until February of the following year. Around the middle of December
1930, her condition was further aggravated by an attack of phlebitis in the
left leg and thigh; the phlebitis then affected the entire joint to the point
that it appeared twice its normal size, rendering all movement impossible.
Phlebitis is a serious disease even in young people, but it becomes doubly
serious in older folk, because of the danger of gangrene caused by arte-
riosclerosis. For this reason, the two attending physicians, who unani-
mously agreed in their diagnosis, issued a prognosis which held out scant
hope for the patient's recovery, in view of her advanced age (she was 78
years old at that time), and the complications of her influenza attack. Any
professor who teaches medicine will maintain that instantaneous recovery
from phlebitis is quite impossible. Yet one night toward the end of that year,
Anna, who had already invoked Blessed Don Bosco during a triduum, put
a relic of his on her infected limb; instantaneously she recovered com-
pletely from her phlebitis. She regained full freedom of speech and full
flexibility, while the joint was no longer swollen or painful. Not only the
attending physicians, but also the physical specialists who examined Anna
ten months later, and again even more recently-no more than six months

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ago---confirmed her total recovery. Three experts who were chosen and
appointed by this Sacred Congregation, agreed unanimously with both the
diagnosis and prognosis ofher attending physicians, and acknowledged the
miracle.
"The second miracle was no less remarkable. Catherine Pilanga, nee
Lanfranchi, suffered from arthritic diathesis. The arthritis had particularly
affected her knees and feet, causing organic lesions. The form of arthritis
was so serious that if it did not endanger the patient's life, it still rendered
impossible the use of her limbs. Since no treatment undergone by the
patient from the year 1903 on had proven useful, she made two pilgrimages
to Lourdes. But when the Blessed Virgin withheld the grace of recovery
again on her second pilgrimage in May 1931, prior to leaving Lourdes, she
uttered this prayer to the Heavenly Mother: 'Since I have not been cured
here, grant me at least that, due to my devotion to Blessed Don Bosco, he
may obtain the grace of recovery for me when I am in Turin.' It is obvious
then that she had invoked Don Bosco, that she had faith in the general
intercession of the Blessed Virgin. Returning home from France, and still
in her customary grave condition, she stopped in Turin, and went to the
Basilica of Mary Help of Christians. Helped by her sister and by the
coachman, she got alighted from the coach. She entered the Church; she
sat down right in front of the bier which contains the body of Blessed Don
Bosco and she prayed. A little while later she succeeded in kneeling down,
and she remained in this position for twenty minutes. Then she rose and
went to the altar of the Blessed Virgin; once more she knelt. Then, coming
to her senses, she recognized that she was cured. Without the help of
anyone, while all who had seen her unable to walk were overwhelmed by
amazement, she moved, she walked, she went up and down the stairs, and
she climbed to the coach seat, without any difficulty at all. Her recovery
was permanent, as it has been confirmed by three specialists. Those doctors
who had attended her, and everyone who witnessed her remarkable recov-
ery, declared that it was a miracle. So did the specialists appointed by this
Sacred Congregation.
"These two miraculous recoveries were discussed once again during
the Preparatory Congregation, held in the presence of the Cardinals on July
25th last, and once more on the 14th of this month, during the General
Congregation in the presence of His Holiness, Pius XI. During this Congre-
gation, Cardinal Alexander Verde, the Ponens, or Relator of the Cause,
submitted the following query: whether there is evidence that miracles
were wrought after Don Bosco' s Beatification and what kind of miracles

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are brought up for the case at hand. The Cardinals, Officers, Prelates, and
Consultants cast their individual votes, but the Holy Father, after listening
to them attentively, felt it opportune that he should wait a while before
formulating his own judgment, so that he might seek light from God.
"He set as the date for the pronouncement of his judgment this 19th
day of November, the 24th Sunday after Pentecost. He summoned the Car-
dinals, Camillus Laurenti, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, and
Alexander Verde, the Ponens or Relator of the Cause, and also the Rev.
Salvatore Natucci, the General Promoter of the Faith, and the Secretary
here undersigned, in whose presence he declared that the two miracles wrought
by God, with intercession ofBlessed John Bosco, had been verified, namely:
complete, instantaneous recovery from acute phlebitis in the left leg ofAnna
Maccolini, and the complete recovery of Catherine Pilengo, nee Lanfranchi,
from a serious, chronic arthritic condition affecting the knees and feet.
"He then ordered the promulgation and entry of this Decree in the
records of the Sacred Congregation of Rites."
November 19, 1933
Alfonso Carinci
Secretary of the Sacred Congregation of Rites
C. Cardinal Laurenti
Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Rites.
Once the Decree had been read out, Father Peter Ricaldone approached
the papal throne. On either side of him were the Postulator, Father Francis
Tomasetti, the Advocate, Bishop Della Cioppa, and Melandri, the Procu-
rator. Then he addressed the following, dutifully filial speech to the Pope:
"Most Blessed Father:
The reading of the Decree that approves the two miracles pre-
sented for the canonization of our Founder, Blessed Don Bosco,
makes our hearts overflow with gratitude and comfort. Our hearts
overflow first of all with gratitude toward Your Holiness; by the
seal of your Apostolic Authority, you have quickened the pace of
the Cause, you have assured us, once again, of divine intervention
in the glorification of our Blessed Father, and Founder. Our hearts
overflow with comfort, because we, his sons, already anticipate
the jubilation of that great day when the Church, by the magis-
terium of Christ's Vicar, will glorify our Father, and crown him
with the halo of the Saints.

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"Today, however, as I render thanks to God and Your Holiness
for this singular grace, I can hear in my own voice the vibrant heart-
beat of the two religious families founded by Don Bosco. (May I
still be allowed to call him by this name which sums up for us so
many and so dear memories?) I heard the heartbeat of these two
families which originated from him and which inherit his spirit
and his trust for the future. We originated from our Beloved Father
at the cost of long and indescribable sacrifices. We inherited his
spirit that we pledge to keep in its integrity and fervor; we inheri-
ted his trust which for reasons connected with heaven grows stronger
day after day and which impels us to work with indefatigable energy
for the glory of God and the good of souls in the field assigned to
us by the Gospel's Master.
"Even the growing number of workers joining our ranks, ready
to renew and expand the two spiritual families ofBlessed Don Bosco,
certainly reassures us that his great ideal, namely the Christian edu-
cation of youth in conformity with the teachings of the Church and
the directives of its visible Head, will continue to be realized, and
even in a better way, for years to come.
"May our Blessed Father obtain for us the grace to reap in an
increasingly abundant way the fruits of Redemption, whose nine-
teen hundredth anniversary has been solemnized throughout the
world with this extraordinary Jubilee directive of Your Holiness.
"With these thoughts in his heart, the humble Successor of
Blessed Don Bosco now kneels at the feet of Your Holiness, to
render a tribute of thanks, and to implore the grace of your Apos-
tolic Blessing for the Salesians, the Daughters of Mary Help of
Christians, our pupils and past pupils, and for the great family of
the Salesian Cooperators."
Father Ricaldone kissed the Pope's foot and left together with
his companions. It was then the tum of His Holiness to speak. He
had evidently meditated deeply on what he was going to say.
There were some moments when, as he recalled events that hap-
pened more than fifty years before and earlier, which had been
deeply fixed in his mind, he seemed about to give way to emotion.
But he kept his self-control with a resolute act of will power, and
his voice remained calm and solemn.
"This is the third time that Don Bosco, (and, We, too, shall
call him Don Bosco to refresh tender recollections) gives Us an

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
invitation, or rather has us face the fortunate duty, of speaking
about him: We remember something dear to Us, and I should say
also dear to him, We remember that personal encounter of long
ago, that friendly opportunity which Divine Providence had given
Us to meet with Don Bosco, even though not for a lengthy-yet
neither a fleeting-moment.
"What is there to say, what is there to add, to all that has
already been said, after all that the Decree and the words pro-
claimed after it, have recalled to Our mind about the Servant of
God? What more is there to say in addition to all that the many
biographies, lives, and publications of greater or lesser length
have said about him, for the benefit of all those who wish to know,
and even for the benefit of those who do not wish to know, since
the miracles related to him get the attention of even the most
careless individuals?
"And yet We feel the sweet temptation to make a rapid review
of everything that has been seen, said, or heard until now. For all
of this constitutes a magnificent synthesis which, in view of the
life and works of Don Bosco, embraces an infinite horizon.
"First of all, We would like to offer a personal synthesis: We
not only may say, but We are obliged to say, that this extraordinary
man of God in the natural order, is also a chosen child in the super-
natural order. As a matter of fact, God is the creator of the natural
world, and also of the universe which extends beyond nature. We
may say that this extraordinary figure, radiant with such a great
splendor and one constituted with so many values, we may say that
this generous goodness, that this great genius, this luminous, per-
spicacious, vigorous, vivacious intelligence, we may say that even
if he had restricted himself to studies and science, he would have
left a deep impression, as he actually did somehow in this field.
"The following could be another kind of summary: this man
who never had time for pursuits other than his unceasing activity,
his constant labor among little children, adolescents, young men
and old men, this man was able, nevertheless, to write exten-
sively. He produced more than seventy publications and written
material, some of which was printed and reprinted in an extraor-
dinary number of editions during his own lifetime. In fact, as
many as a million copies have been printed of some of them.

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"In addition to his exceptional, amazing, superior intelligence,
he had a heart of gold. A manly, paternal heart, and yet at the same
time, a heart which beat with the tenderness of a mother's heart,
especially for little ones, for the poorest and least among the poor
and the youngest children. Besides having this kind of heart, he
also had gigantic, untamed, staunch will power, but how it was
regulated by the huge number of foundations and by the extraor-
dinary amount of work he had to undertake!
"His intelligence and will power were accompanied by a body,
a physique, which, partly thanks to nature and partly thanks to the
hardships of poverty with which he was acquainted from his early
years, but also and even more, thanks to his iron will power and
discipline, thanks to his genuine, voluntary penance, Don Bosco
was able to show an endurance in work which was really amazing
and which We do not hesitate to call miraculous. We need only cast
a fleeting glance at all that Don Bosco accomplished to realize how
excellently he carried out everything. When he wrote something,
and We saw him busily engaged in writing, it seemed as though he
had nothing else to do. He wrote page after page; he wrote pamphlets
and countless letters, all of which were so many spiritual treasures.
It looked as though he had no other occupation, no other obliga-
tion, than to speak, to listen to everybody, and to respond to every-
body. It seemed as though he had a great deal of free time, because
he thought he had a duty to mingle with the boys who were the
most unfortunate and who needed his care. He would tell short
stories to them; he would play with them, as though no other task
or occupation demanded his precious presence, as though he did
not have to do all that he actually did in such a marvelous way.
It's amazing then to grasp how he was able to find time to carry
on all that he did and to comprehend how and when he could take
some rest or enjoy a bit of quiet, things which were for him as for
everyone, absolutely necessary.
"But this personal summary, or better still this series of per-
sonal summaries, which is already so wonderful and so magnifi-
cent, this review almost vanishes, but only to reappear as the cause
related to its effects, when it is considered with an accurate account
of the work carried out by Don Bosco. This is so, especially when
it is seen at a distance of many years, namely from the pastures

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
of Becchi, from the humble beginnings at St. Philomena's, to Val-
docco, to the flourishing expansion of today. A general and com-
prehensive look reveals that the number of the sons and daughters
of the Blessed Don Bosco, the Salesians and the Daughters Mary
Help of Christians, amounts to approximately 19,000! One might
say: a regular army! An army all at the fore, on the first line of
combat, all intent to carry out a vast and productive work. It is a
fact that Don Bosco's characteristic, the characteristic that he be-
queathed to his followers as his religious inheritance, is work, and
anyone who is not a worker, will never look comfortable in the
ranks of the Salesians or of the Daughters of Mary Help of Chris-
tians. Work is the mark and the identity card of this providentially
created army. There are other facts to prove it: 1800 Houses, 80
provinces, or 'ispettorie,' as the Salesians call them. Thousands
and thousands of chapels, churches, Hospices and schools. It would
be rather difficult to list them all. The number of pupils runs into
the hundreds of thousands. The past pupils number runs into mil-
lions. There are more than a million members in the Third Order
branch of his great family, the family of the Cooperators, which
is his Long Arm as Don Bosco used to call it. We ourselves have
heard him describe the Cooperators in this way when, with the humble
satisfaction proper of someone who wants to point out the impor-
tance of others, Blessed Don Bosco remarked that, thanks to so
many Cooperators, Don Bosco-he always referred to himself in
the third person, whenever he was obliged to talk about himself-
had arms that were long enough to reach everything. Yet, in spite
of these figures, it is still difficult to sum up, even only approxi-
mately, all the good that was accomplished by Don Bosco, and all
that he is still accomplishing today. Perhaps it would be enough
to mention the sixteen missions, actual and true missions, plus the
addition of twice as many subsidiary missionary outposts, where
Don Bosco' s sons and daughters labor assiduously for the con-
version of unbelievers.
"An immense, an extraordinary, amount of good was done by
Don Bosco and his sons! It is enough to think about the zeal
exhibited in the field of a multifaceted education: civil, profes-
sional, commercial, agricultural, yet always the same kind of edu-
cation, always with the same traits considering the fact that this

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education is a Christian education, an education totally, deeply,
exquisitely Christian.
"This is a most beautiful synthesis, even though expressed
succinctly and at such a great distance in time, which has been
brought to Our mind by the undertakings, as vast as the world
itself-and by the figure of Blessed Don Bosco, who returns to
our midst once again in these happy moments.
"One might rightly raise the question: what was the secret behind
this miraculous accomplishment, this extraordinary development,
this immense effort, and this magnificent success? Don Bosco him-
self gave us the answer that we seek, and he himself handed to us
the key to understand this wonderful mystery. He had given it to
us and it is found in his never-ending elevation of his mind to God,
or rather in his constant prayer before God. As a matter of fact, he
carried on an unceasing and intimate conversation with God, and
rarely have the words: qui laborat, orat (he who works prays) been
fulfilled so excellently as they were in Don Bosco. He accurately
identified work and prayer and he has given us proof of it when
he constantly referred to the invocation: Da mihi animas coetera
tolle (give me souls take the rest away). Souls, always, always the
quest for souls, and always the love for souls.
"How timely is this thought, this personal prayer of the blessed
Servant of God, during this wonderful, edifying, holy, and fruitful
Holy Year of our Redemption! Don Bosco, as a matter of fact, had
studied and meditated, he had meditated well and constantly, on
the mystery and work of our Redemption, in order to carry out his
stupendous yet wearisome work. We might say rather that this alone
explains it: he had received a specific mandate from God, a particu-
lar mission, namely, to continue the work of Redemption, to expand
and distribute more widely and in greater abundance the precious
fruits of our Redemption. This is how the greatness of his activity
shines forth: think of all the souls that he called to share in the
Redemption of Jesus Christ during his lifetime; think of those souls
which have been called to share in Christ's Redemption by his Longa
Manus, his Sons and his Cooperators. They did this either by bringing
them for the first time to a real and true spiritual resurrection or
by bringing lost or forgotten souls back to the path of salvation.
In all things and everywhere, the main concern was the spreading
of the fruits of Redemption.

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
"Blessed Don Bosco therefore meditated deeply on the mys-
tery of Redemption. Today, more than ever, the following is that
renewed and opportune call which We have wished to make and
hoped to be heeded during this Holy Year: the thought of all the
souls which have been redeemed, the thought of the whole human
race saved by Jesus Christ, these We should be once again urged
to remember with grateful attention as the grandiose work, whose
inestimable fruits we share, the work of Redemption and the author
of Redemption, Jesus Christ.
"Da mihi animas, cetera tolle! And what does the Redeemer
say to us? What does He say to those souls who willingly follow
this path? The first word uttered from the cross on which our
Redemption was consummated in the Blood and Death of the Son
of God is the same word uttered by Jesus as a prelude to His
divine work: Quid prodest homini, si mundum universum lucretur,
animae vero suae detrimentum patiatur (What does it profit a
man, if he gain the whole world, but suffer the loss of his own
soul)? This already indicates the inestimable and transcendental
value of the soul, the incomparable value of souls. This is the true
word, this is that divine lesson which our dying Redeemer gave
to us as His will and testament from the cross, and He wrote it in
His own Blood. In that supreme hour the Lord told us: look! This
is the complete value of all souls, and therefore the value of each
and every single soul. He did not think that by shedding His
Blood, by laying down His Life, He was paying too great a price
for our souls, a price of such divine, infinite, inestimable value.
Nothing else do We want to add, except to invite you to abide by
this great word, to live on with this great love of souls just as
Blessed Don Bosco who was a marvelous instrument of Redemp-
tion for so many souls, and who lived in close communion with
this word, with this love, that was our Divine Redeemer's."
After expressing this final thought, the Pope blessed those present
and their intentions; he blessed the Salesians and the Daughters of
Mary Help of Christians, all the people who assisted them in their
wonderful activities and he blessed all that the people present had
in their thoughts and hearts and wished to have blessed, besides
themselves.
After imparting the blessing, the Holy Father graciously accepted
from the Postulator a copy of the Decree, which had been read

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aloud earlier. Then he stepped down from his throne, reverently
greeted by the Cardinals, Prelates, and Religious present, and retired
to his chambers. As he did so, inside the hall and outside in the
corridors, the public commented on all that they had seen and heard.
The essential conditions required by the Cause had been ful-
filled, and now only a few formalities remained. We shall speak
of them in the next chapter. Since the extraordinary date was fast
approaching preparations for the festivities, were begun. These
were expected to be magnificent, especially in Rome and Turin.
Maximum attention was given to the careful organization of the
pilgrimages, which when they were made known, began to come
in large numbers and from all over the world.
Since the press would focus much attention on the future Saint,
the Rector Major, ever since the course of the Cause seemed to go
on so successfully, had shown the foresight to eliminate the dan-
gerous possibility that the great figure ofDon Bosco might be reduced
to the proportions ofbeing only the Founder of the Salesian Society
and of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians
and nothing more. Far from this! The Church itself had officially
recognized the universal nature of his mission, extended to every
area and in every sort of climate. Don Bosco' s Apostolate had dis-
played tremendous power. And so on June 26th Father Peter Rical-
done issued an admonition to the diocesan Directors, and Decurions
of the Cooperators gathered at Valdocco: Let's keep the figure of
Don Bosco exactly as Our Lord has given him to us. The September
issue of the Salesian Bulletin gave this rallying cry much publicity.
Many newspapers, among them La Tribuna (on October 11th), quoted
that watchword, adding comments of their own. With every passing
day the fervor of the expectations increased in intensity.

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Qlqapter 12
The "Toto" and the Consistories
All that has been described thus far involved endless investigations.
How much research, how many sacrifices, what great expense, in order to
attain not merely the truth, but an absolute certainty of truth from all per-
spectives! One might have thought that everything was over, once the two
miracles were approved. Instead, the Cardinals and Consultors had to meet
and to cast their vote as to whether or not, after the approval of the miracles,
one could justifiably and safely (tuto) proceed to the solemn canonization.
In the event of a favorable decision, a Tuto Decree, analogous to the one
issued at the time of the Beatification, would be promulgated.
This meant that a brief Positio had to be written and printed; it had to
contain four things: a petition addressed to the Pope, which would contain
the praises of the Blessed, the Tuto Decree for his Beatification, the Decree
regarding the miracles investigated for his Canonization, and a detailed,
analytical opinion formulated by the General Promoter of the Faith. The
reason for this Positio was to enlighten clearly and definitively the minds
of those called on to vote. In his detailed presentation, the Devil's Advocate
referred to the multitude of people who were awaiting eagerly Don Bosco' s
canonization, and he also expressed his own personal opinion on the
subject: "This likewise is the wish of the Promoter of the Faith who, in
his great admiration for the extraordinary stature of this man, is glad to have
played a part in his Cause, and he does not consider it merely feasible, but
extraordinarily advisable, that so distinguished a worker for Christ, who
endured many and so great tribulations for the glory of God, and the
salvation of souls, be numbered in the list (Canon) of the Saints."
The Tuto Congregation met on November 28,1933, in the presence of
the Pope. All those with the right to vote did so in favor of canonization.
Then the Pope authorized the writing of the Decree, and set as the date for
its public reading December 3rd, which was the first Sunday in Advent and
the feast of St. Francis Xavier.
There is a reason for mentioning this second circumstance. On the feast
of this great son of St. Ignatius, three of his Confreres were to form a
glorious company together with Blessed Don Bosco. These Jesuits were
the Venerable Servants of God, Roque Gonzalez de Santa Cruz, Alfonso

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Rodriguez, and John del Castillo, who laid down their lives for the faith
in Paraguay. Their martyrdom would be solemnly proclaimed that day.
The formalities of the ceremony were no different from those already
described in the previous chapters. After he had read out the Decree relating
to the three Jesuit Martyrs, the Secretary read the Tuto Decree for Don
Bosco, of which a translation follows:
"The seeds sown everywhere during the eighteenth century and des-
tined to destroy Christian Society, had reached maturity and produced
poisonous fruits during the nineteenth century. The Church, especially in
Italy, felt overwhelmed by the many storms created by the wickedness of
the times and by the malice of men. But the Divine Mercy summoned at
this same time brave champions to uphold God's Church, to ward off its
total destruction, and to save the precious heritage which the Apostles had
bequeathed to our people-the true faith of Christ.
"As a matter of fact, in those disastrous years men of the most shining
sanctity emerged among us, and because of their prodigious activity, no
enemy attack was able to dismantle the walls of Israel.
"Foremost among them for the nobility of his heart and the greatness
of his undertakings was Blessed John Bosco, who in the midst of the
terrible times, stood as a turning point in the past century, and pointed out
to people the path to salvation. For God raised him up to justice, and
directed all his ways even as the Lord says in Isaiah (55:13). By the power
of the Holy Spirit, Blessed John Bosco appears to us a model of the priest
foreshadowed after God's heart, as an incomparable educator of youth, as
a Founder of new religious families, and as an Apostle of our holy faith.
"John was of a humble birth, and first saw the light of day in a country
farmhouse near Castelnuovo d' Asti; he was born to poor, but virtuous
Christian parents, Francis and Margaret Occhiena, on August 16, 1815.
When barely two years old he lost his father, and was brought up piously
by his wise and holy mother. He possessed an excellent character from his
childhood. He was likewise endowed with keen intelligence and an extraor-
dinarily keen memory, so that, when he went to school, he learned in an
instant all that he was taught by his teachers, and he was, without any
contest, the first of the class as he excelled by his quick comprehension
and the intuitiveness of his mind.
"He endured two years of dire poverty. This helped him grow stronger
in order to meet arduous future challenges. He entered the Chieri Seminary
with his mother's consent, and with the recommendation ofBlessed Joseph

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Cafasso. He studied there, with great success, for a period of six years, and
at last he was ordained a priest in Turin, on June 5, 1841.
"A few months later he entered the Convitto Ecclesiastico of St. Fran-
cis of Assisi, where, under the direction of the above-mentioned Blessed
Joseph Cafasso, he performed all kinds of priestly duties in hospitals,
prisons, the confessional box and the pulpit, with great benefit to souls.
"This practical experience as a priest helped him to be well-formed
and also made him acutely aware of the growing vocation, which as a boy
he had first conceived in his heart through divine inspiration. This was the
vocation to guide youth, abandoned youth in particular, along the path of
Christian virtue. With his great perspicacity, he realized how essential a
thing this was, if society was to be saved from the disaster that threatened
it. In carrying out his design, his noble impulse led him to such successful
lengths that beyond any doubt, among the Christian educators of his time,
Don Bosco is number one. Neither hardship nor persecution ever held him
back from pursuing this extraordinary mission, so great was his charity
towards young people at risk, so firm was his resolution to lead youth to
Christ. Whenever he met with children abandoned in the streets, he attracted
them with his affable manner, with his great charity and gentleness, and
with the spirit of St. Francis of Sales and St. Philip Neri, he won their affec-
tion. He kept them happy with games so that they sought him out every-
where and regarded him as a tenderly affectionate father. But together with
this divine spirit of charity, he possessed a supernatural spirit of discern-
ment, which attained its utmost perfection in the system of education with
which he outlined sure and brilliant guidelines for a pedagogy which is
among the best and most trustworthy.
"The very name Oratory, which he gave to his foundation, reveals the
solid basis on which he built up the whole edifice of his educational sys-
tem: namely, he built it on Christian doctrine and on piety, without which
all attempts to rescue youths from the snares of evil passions and to elevate
them to noble ideals would inevitably prove useless. In this respect, he
used so much gentleness that the boys came to absorb and love almost
spontaneously the spirit of piety, not out of a feeling of constraint, but out
of genuine sincerity. Once he had won their love, he had no further diffi-
culty in guiding them along the path of virtue. His basic principle was that
children could be corrected more readily with preventive than with repres-
sive measures. Although this system of education may be more difficult,
it is far more effective in training youths to acquire good habits. We need
only look at the facts in order to gauge how much he accomplished by

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following this system. There were young men who, guided by this system,
reached the highest peaks of Christian life, and even the heroicity of virtue.
Today, Salesian Oratories which have multiplied prodigiously, despite untold
obstacles, and even during his own lifetime, are spread out everywhere in
the world, and countless is the number of souls that have been led to the
feet of Jesus Christ.
"Encouraged by Blessed Joseph Cafasso, and by Pope Pius IX of
saintly memory, Don Bosco founded the Pious Society of St. Francis of
Sales, and the Institute ofthe Daughters ofMary Help ofChristians some
time later, so as to assure the continued existence of the Oratories, and make
adequate provision for a more effective education of youth.
"At the present day, these two religious families have a total number
of approximately one thousand five hundred Houses with nearly twenty
thousand members scattered across the world. The number of boys and
girls being formed academically and professionally runs into thousands
upon thousands. His spiritual sons and daughters also dedicate their energy
generously to the care of the sick and of lepers, and some of them have
contracted this dreadful disease, to die as victims of their own charity, as
worthy sons and daughters of their great Father.
"We must not forget to mention the Union of the Cooperators, an
Association of the faithful, most of them lay people who are animated with
the spirit of the Salesian Society, and who, much like the Salesians, are
ready to engage themselves in all forms of charitable activity, and have as
their goal to give able assistance to pastors, to Bishops, and even to the
Pope himself, as the circumstances may require. This Association was
approved by Pius IX, and it is a remarkable forerunner of today's Catholic
Action; during the lifetime of Blessed John, the Association had as many
as eighty thousand members.
"His flaming zeal for souls did not allow Don Bosco to be restricted
within the boundaries of Catholic countries, and so, widening the horizons
of his charity, he sent Missionaries from his religious family to conquer
less civilized peoples for Christ.
"The first expedition of Missionaries, led by John Cagliero, of glorious
and happy memory, moved on to evangelize the remotest parts of South
America, only to be followed by many other Salesians who courageously
carry Christianity to the infidels, in different parts of the world.
"It would be difficult to enumerate all the wonderful things that he
accomplished, and the many sufferings that he endured for the sake of the
Church, also in the defense of the rights of the Roman Pontiff. We can apply

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unhesitatingly to Blessed John the words that refer to Solomon: And God
gave to him wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of
heart as the sand that is on the seashore (3 Kings 4:29). God gave him
wisdom: for, having renounced all worldly things, he aspired solely to
enhancing the glory of God and assuring the salvation of souls. His motto
was: Give me souls and take away the rest!
"He cultivated humility to the highest degree; his spirit of prayer was
extraordinary, and his mind lived in constant union with God, even though
he might have seemed to be distracted by an infinite number of different
tasks.
"He had a great devotion to Mary Most Holy and the Help of Chris-
tians, and experienced ineffable joy when he succeeded in erecting in her
honor, the famous Turin church where the Virgin Help of Christians towers
atop the cupola as sovereign Mother and Queen of the whole Salesian
House of Valdocco.
"He died a holy death in the Lord on January 31, 1888, in Turin. Since
then, the reputation of his sanctity has increased day by day. The Diocesan
Ordinary instituted the Apostolic Processes; Pius X of happy memory
introduced the cause of his Beatification in 1907, and on June 2, 1929, he
was solemnly Beatified in St. Peter's Basilica, and acclaimed by the uni-
versal Church.
"When his cause was resumed the following year, the processes to
examine the cures, which seemed to have to be attributed to divine miracles,
were instituted. A Decree issued on November 19,1929, approved two miracles
wrought by God, through the intercession of Blessed John.
"One doubt still remained, and that is whether or not one might
proceed safely and with certitude, with his solemn canonization, once the
Holy See had approved the two miracles and authorized his public cult.
Cardinal Alexander Verde, the Ponens or Relator of the Cause, proposed
that doubt at the General Assembly of the Sacred Congregation of Rites,
in the presence of the Holy Father, on November 28,1933. All those who
were present, the Cardinals, Officers, prelates and the Fathers Consultors
gave a unanimous favorable vote. The Holy Father gladly accepted that
verdict. However, he delayed his final approval for December 3, 1933, the
first Sunday of Advent and also the Feast of Saint Francis Xavier, the
heavenly patron of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith. And
so, the Pope offered the celebration of the Sacrifice of the Mass, summoned
the Cardinals, Camillo Laurenti, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of

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Rites, Alexander Verde, the Ponens or Relator of the Cause, Father Sal-
vatore Natucci, General Promoter of the Faith, and myself, the Secretary
of the undersigned, and declared that Blessed John Bosco could quite
safely be canonized. He then ordered that this Decree be promulgated and
reported in the Acts of the Sacred Congregation of Rites.
The 3rd day of December, in the year of Our Lord 1933"
A. Carinci
Secretary
C. Cardinal Laurenti
Prefect of the Holy Congregation of Rites
At this time, Father Peter Ricaldone was very happy that Father Ledo-
chowsky, the General of the Society of Jesus, had been called upon to
convey the gratitude of the two societies to the Pope. The Jesuit Father
General approached the papal throne, accompanied by Father Peter Rical-
done, by the Postulators, and by Advocates for both Causes, and read out
this address:
"Most Blessed Father:
I am deeply moved to speak in the presence of Your Holiness
on this most august occasion when, by the gracious design ofDivine
Providence, the humble successor of St. Ignatius has been granted
the great honor and the great consolation of conveying to Your Holi-
ness the heartfelt gratitude of the great, twofold and vast families
of Blessed John Bosco for the Decree which already assured the
supreme honors ofcanonization to their wonderful Father and Founder.
But his sons and daughters are not the only ones who today rejoice
over his imminent glorification. In fact, they are joined by all the
pupils and past pupils of Salesian Schools, by all the souls that
have benefited through their apostolic labors, by all their friends
and Cooperators. One may safely say that the whole world shares
and will share their joy, for we are dealing with one of those truly
providential men who set apart an epoch in the history ofthe Church
and of Mankind. He is one of those men whom God, in His Mercy,
raises from time to time, yet with that wise frugality which causes
them to be all the more appreciated, inasmuch as they are so rare.
He is one of those men of whom it can truthfully be said that: in
omnem terram exivit sonus eorum et in fines orbis terrae verba
eorum (their sound resounded all over the earth and their words
reached the far ends of the world).

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"The consolation that I feel for my close participation in the
joy of the great Salesian family which, with its zealous activity, its
Missions, and apostolic activities of all kinds and in all fields, occu-
pies one of the foremost places of honor in the vineyard of the
Lord; the consolation that I feel is enhanced by the thought of the
steadfast, sincere friendship that the future Saint has always shown
and luminously so toward the Society of Jesus and its members.
Recalling the great veneration he always had and always promoted
toward the Saints of our Society, especially toward St. Aloysius
Gonzaga and St. Francis Xavier, a friendship and devotion that he
has passed on to his sons who, today more than before perhaps,
avail themselves of every opportunity to attest their affection for
us and to help us. May I recall, very particularly and with deep
gratitude, all that the Salesians, and especially their Rector Major,
have done for us in the recent tribulations endured by our Society
in Spain, and the cordial efforts they have made to comfort our
priests and brothers who sought refuge in Piedmont.
"Next to the great and most renowned Blessed John Bosco
three humble sons of St. Ignatius are presented to us. They are barely
known to the rest of the world, but they have acquired great popu-
larity in a territory they once evangelized and irrigated with their
blood. These humble Jesuits are great in the eyes of God because
of their sacrifice, which St. Ambrose proclaimed to be equivalent
to the most beautiful panegyric: Dixi martyrem, praedicavi satis
(I called him a martyr, there is no more need for a sermon.) All
three of them, and especially their leader, Venerable Father Roque
Gonzales, were among the first founders of the famous 'reductions'
that made famous the 'joyous Christianity' of Paraguay, so elo-
quently described by Ludovico Anthony Muratori. Their glorifi-
cation, already evidenced by today's Decree, stirs up and justifiably
so, the holy enthusiasm ofthe prosperous Republics ofSouthAmerica
which share the vast stage on which the heroism of our three vener-
able brothers was displayed: the shores of Rio de la Plata, namely
Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. All these Catholic nations,
headed by their governments and their Bishops, just as they have
earnestly implored, so now enthusiastically forecast the joy ofbeing
able to hail them as the first Blessed Martyrs of those regions. This
applies very particularly to the Ven. Father Roque Gonzalez, who

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was a native son ofAsuncion, Paraguay, and a secular priest before
he became a religious in our Society. He joined the Society of Jesus
to get away from the honors of higher ecclesiastical appointments.
Later he became the Apostle of the tribes that lived along the banks
of the Rio de la Plata, among whom he found the coveted palm
of martyrdom. Therefore, in the fullest meaning of the word, he
is a citizen of South America; and when he is elevated to the honor
of the Altars, he will be the first crimson native flower ever to have
blossomed there and to be plucked from that soil, just as St. Rose
is the first and most beautiful virginal flower.
"The palms of martyrs could not be absent from such an extraor-
dinary, solemn Holy Year, for those palms of martyrdom serve as
the crown of the Divine martyr who died on Golgotha. With full
heart, and in humble joy and gratitude, the family of St. Ignatius
heartily thanks, first of all, the giver of all goods, and then Your
Holiness, for the immense favor granted that these palms of martyrs,
intertwined with the marvelous flowers ofthe new Saints and Blessed
of the Jubilee Year, should be chosen from the modest garden of
the Society of Jesus.
"Most Blessed Father:
At the beginning of the New Liturgical Year, which already
invites people to approach the crib of Our Redeemer, on this day
dedicated to the memory of the great patron Saint of all Missions,
Blessed Don Bosco helps us hear his motto, his cry of sorrow, his
cry of love: Da mihi animas! And the three Venerable Martyrs of
South America show us the extent to which we must love the
souls redeemed by the blood of God made Man. Here at the feet
of Your Holiness, while we express our humble thanks for the joy
you have given us today, we also renew our resolve to work with
all our strength for the peaceful conquest of the entire world for
the Kingdom of God under the leadership of His Vicar on Earth,
a resolve which is best perfected with the spirit of Don Bosco and
of St. Ignatius.
"Most Blessed Father, please strengthen these resolves of ours
with your Apostolic Blessing, which I now implore for our two
religious families, for the nations which are proud in the Lord of
these new heroes, for everyone who is present here, and for all
those who stand united with us in mind and heart."

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By mentioning the Jesuits who had sought refuge in Piedmont, Father
Ledochowski referred to something that deserves to be explained here. In
1932, the revolutionary government of Spain had banished with an unjust
law the Jesuits from that Republic. Father Peter Ricaldone, mindful of what
Don Bosco had done under similar circumstances, offered the novices and
scholastics of the Society any Salesian House in Italy which they might
prefer. He had also given instructions to the Salesian Spanish Provincials
to give all possible assistance to the victims of the persecution. The first
offer was declined, because the young members of the Society had already
found a safe refuge at Bollengo (Piedmont) in the district of Ivrea. But at
the start, they lacked many essentials necessary to get adjusted. Father Peter
Ricaldone instructed all the Salesian Houses in that area to supply them
with whatever they needed. Since he knew how uncomfortable people in
exile are, he arranged for them relaxing outings to the Missionary Institutes
of Ivrea and Cumiana, and on these outings no fraternal effort was spared
to give them a proper welcome and to make them feel at home.
The Holy Father now spoke in reply to the address of Father Ledo-
chowski, and drew valuable teachings from the three martyrs and from the
life of Don Bosco for all the faithful to heed and follow during the Jubilee
year of the Redemption.
"Beloved children, you have heard the Decrees that were read
out to us; you have been attentive to the beautiful, pious and fra-
ternal explanation that has been provided for them; you have seen
how, once again, the great and beloved figure of Blessed Don Bosco
has returned among us to accompany and render due homage to
the Martyrs of the divine Redeemer. Martyrdom is the supreme
honor, as it is also the most precious fruit of redemption, of that
Redeemer a quo omne martyrium sumpsit exordium (from whom
martyrdom had its beginning) as the Church says so beautifully
and solemnly. Since divine liberality has already allowed Us to
speak and dwell on other occasions on Blessed Don Bosco, We
shall now pause to admire these great Martyrs who join so becom-
ingly the triumphant pageant that commemorated the nineteen hun-
dredth anniversary of the divine Redemption, and of our divine
Redeemer. However, We shall not neglect to make some references
to Don Bosco, as you will see.
"It is fitting, and apropos of the new Martyrs, that opportunity
is now being offered to us to raise some questions: what are we,

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not only to admire but actually imitate, in them? This is really part
of the highly educative economy of the Church, namely never to
present to the veneration of the Faithful such exalted figures with-
out seeking to encourage people to imitate them. Ut imitari non
pigeat, quos celebrare delectat (lest we regretfully omit to imitate
those whom we honor with delightful celebrations).
"What else can we do first but pay a tribute of admiration to
these heroes of the faith, heroes to the point of shedding their
blood and dying? And yet this admiration, which is a must for
everyone, immediately brings a signal advantage to our souls for
everyone. This advantage relates to the very great honor granted
to us to admire actions which, as it has been so eloquently pointed
out, constitute the most illustrious, magnificent and shining tes-
timony that may be provided for human nature, for us poor mor-
tals, to render to the Truth Who judges all men, and all things,
Who reigns over all and outlives everything; it is the greatest,
most worthy testimony of all, the testimony of one's blood. A
genius once expressed this in a genial way: this is the greatest
gesture that man can ever perform.
"In the presence of such a gesture, of such greatness, it is
already a special benefit if we are allowed merely to pause and
contemplate such a vision. For how could a soul, even though it
is endowed with natural talents, yet remote from all that is super-
natural, how could a soul fail to be rekindled by a feeling of
admiration, and with it by a feeling of appreciation, for such great
acts, and with this feeling of appreciation, who knows? also by an
initial desire to make some effort, some attempt, to reach those
very heights? This alone would mean a tremendous profit as far
as the education of souls.
"However, how many benefits, and what kind ofbenefits, could
be drawn from the very exaltation of such sublime heroisms, even
when they are simply more admired than imitated? For we have
to realize even with a small amount of reflection, that we do have
sublime examples of fidelity, of patience, of heroism, motivated to
endure immense sacrifices. There may be situations and moments
in one's life when the fulfillment of a duty, the renunciation of the
chance to make a dishonest gain, even to enjoy a legitimate plea-
sure, may involve sacrifices. It is exactly in these circumstances

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that these great spirits admonish us and show us which path we
should follow and what law we should keep, when we are con-
fronted by weaknesses and vacillation, when we are confronted by
so many stressful struggles between what we should do and what
we are tempted to do. These heroes, who have given their blood
and their lives in order to overcome all obstacles with Christian
fortitude, repeat to each and everyone of us: Nondum usque ad
sanguinem restitistis (you have not persevered up to the point of
shedding your blood): they ask what is demanded of you, in com-
parison to what was demanded of us? And there are so many people
who have given their blood and their lives in order to be faithful
to God, and not to lose the fruits of Redemption!
"And since all this can be very practical, the Martyrs ask us,
for example, what kind of a sacrifice is requested, by a Catholic
life, by the honor of one's name, by our Christian dignity, from
poor girls, from young women, if they are called to forsake a fash-
ion which offends God, which offends the name of Christian, which
offends Christian dignity itself? What is this 'forsaking' when com-
pared with the enormous sacrifices some make to be faithful to
God? Compared with these heroic sacrifices, what is the sacrifice
required by human duty and Christian duty to abandon a dishonest
enterprise or a dishonest easy gain which nobody will discover, but
which will never escape God's eye? What kind of a sacrifice is
requested from a young life, from a young man, who is aware of
the dignity of his status as a Christian, when he is called upon to
challenge courageously human respect (and this should not be so
difficult after all) or to forego certain shows, parties, and dances
offensive to both human dignity and to Christian honor? Here you
have a second group of Martyrs, lesser martyrs who should draw
strength from the first group, the real martyrs, and look up to them
for spiritual guidance and for that inspiration which no one should
reject.
"However, magnificent examples of martyrdom can be found
in certain ways of life, in certain parts of life. How often do the
beautiful words of St. Augustine come true: 'Virginity is not honor-
able because there have been men and women martyrs who were
virgins, but because it is virginity itself that creates martyrs.' Non
ideo honorabilis virginitas, quia etiam in virginibus martyrium repe-
ritur, sed quiafacit ipsa martyres. Magnificent words, for here you

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have a life, a life which practices virtue, a life which is raised and
nourished by this virtue, and this is a life which resembles in no
small way a long martyrdom. Here you have a sublime life, fash-
ioned after the one brought down to earth by the Lord of Angels
and shown by his example; here you have a life that renounces all
the things which a worldly life covets so greedily. This leads Us
to think that very often these virtues were born from admiration
for the Holy Martyrs, precisely as SaintAugustine said when speak-
ing of the different kinds of martyrdoms. The celebrations in honor
of martyrs are an exhortation to martyrdom. Exhortationes sunt
martyriorum.
"With the same wonder with which We render tribute to Mar-
tyrs who shed their blood, We regard as genuine martyrdoms all
the others, so many and so admirable to behold, frequently unknown
and buried within the confining walls of a religious house, found
at the foot of an altar and entirely hidden, found in a most innocent
life of penance and of total self sacrifice, in a most ardent desire
to keep one's fidelity to God, even at the cost of shedding one's
blood and meeting with death. The world does not know, and will
never know, these martyrdoms endured by so many souls who live
oblivious to self, who are genuine, innocent victims, who desire
only to ward off the severity of divine Justice from the world (and
how often do they ward it off!) especially in these tragic and wicked
times, and who wish to divert this same severity down upon them-
selves. How many good and true Christian parents of large fami-
lies exist today, parents who are faithful to their duties as married
couples, as relatives, as blue collar workers, as Christian workers,
Christian servants, exist today even at the cost of unspeakable dif-
ficulties and privations, even at the cost of continuously fighting
against the harsh uncertainties of the moment. These are the genu-
ine martyrs of Christian life!
"Again, besides all these drastic situations, which often dis-
close real tragedy linked with genuine martyrdom, how many other
more serene lives also exist, lives which are carried on, at least in
outward appearance, without any difficulty, and yet they are full
of obstacles dealt with so nobly and in such a Christian way! Infi-
nite is the number of lives that are spent in the fulfillment of humble
duties lacking any particular harshness, yet exacting duties, duties

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loaded with responsibility, and forever carried out, every day and
all days, and in the same old way. And all this is done by people
whose lives are steeped in monotony, who carry out duties which
do not even contain those buoyant aspects, those motivations and
stimuli which quite often make carrying out duties much easier.
They discharge a monotonous, methodical kind of work, a work
which never changes, which demands prescribed care and atten-
tion, exactness and punctuality, without any moral rewards. These
are the other kinds of martyrdoms, more modest, less exaggerated,
than the great martyrdoms, but nevertheless they are martyrdoms.
And there are so many of them! And the martyrs who have shed
their blood also repeat to these martyrs the encouraging refrain:
Nondum usque ad sanguinem restitistis (You have not yet endured
a martyrdom of blood).
"There is yet another reflection I want to make. When we
glorify these new Martyrs, we admire and honor them because
they have reached their own Mount Calvary, not as dark as the
Calvary of the King of Martyrs, and yet it is from that Calvary
that their Calvary receives light. We also think that to reach their
Calvary they prepared themselves, not simply with journeys, but
continually with that patience, perseverance, and fortitude which
were demanded by the martyrdom of their daily life. May we
quote an example: the Saintly Bishop Fructuosus of Tarragona
was led to his martyrdom after an entire day of torture and tor-
ments. One of his guards, seeing how exhausted, how broken he
was, and that he was tormented by a raging thirst after a severe
loss of blood, offered him a goblet of water. The Bishop thanked
him but declined it, saying, 'I cannot drink because today is a fast
day, and it is not yet sunset.' The great Christian writer, Alexander
Manzoni, made a perceptive comment: 'Who could fail to under-
stand that it was precisely this reverent and scrupulous respect for
the Divine Law that had prepared the Martyr for his supreme
sacrifice?'
"Even Blessed Don Bosco finds his proper place in this magni-
ficent picture and context. His is a life which We were privileged
to observe and admire at close range, a life which was indeed a
true, genuine martyrdom. His was a life of colossal work, which
impressed everyone who saw the Servant of God. His was a life

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of unfaltering, inexhaustible patience, of true and genuine charity,
to the point of always keeping something of himself, of his mind,
of his heart, for the last comer, no matter the hour in which he
arrived and no matter the work Don Bosco had previously done.
His life was a continuous martyrdom, and it was evidenced by the
privations endured, by his frail condition, which seemed to be caused
by constant fasting. This is why Blessed Don Bosco is thoroughly
at home in the company of these heroes of Christian fortitude pro-
fessed even unto martyrdom.
"Honor to the martyrs and Don Bosco who belong to these
two religious families rightly jubilant today, and more than ever
exultant as they remember them."
The Holy Father then congratulated both religious families for having
produced such heroes, such examples of virtue for the world to see, for
redeemed mankind to imitate, such heroes which Redemption alone could
have produced. They were exemplars and champions also of humanity,
which is never more esteemed than when it is honored by such exemplars
who have emerged from of its ranks and who compensate so wondrously
for other creatures, for other men, who indeed bear the name of 'men' but
do nothing to honor mankind, who instead merely foment their lower
passions, flout virtue, God, truth, and all that is good, who scorn all that
may and does constitute the honor of the human race. The Pope then
congratulated the whole Church and the whole world, for a glory such as
this is not the privileged, exclusive property of one single nation, but is a
product of the human race in general, and therefore it belongs to the whole
of mankind. He then gave the blessing, which had been requested, first to
the countries now overjoyed at the radiant glories of sanctity and martyr-
dom which had been recognized, and then to everyone who had partici-
pated at the celebration of these holy events.
There remained now only a second formality, namely the Consistories,
which happen to be three: one of them secret, the second public, and the
third semi-public. They did not deal only with Don Bosco, but also with
Blessed Pompilius Mary Pirrotti Scolopio of the Poor Clerics of the Chris-
tian schools, Blessed Mary Michael of the Most Blessed Sacrament (she
had founded the Handmaidens of the Blessed Sacrament, and of Charity),
and Blessed Louise de Marillac, the Co-foundress of the Society of the
Daughters of Charity.

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
The first two Consistories took place on December 21st. The first, the
secret Consistory, was attended only by Cardinals. The Cardinal Prefect of
the Congregation of Rites read an account ofthe lives, virtues, and miracles
of the Beatified Servants of God, and a report on the development of the
Acts of the four Causes carried out by the Sacred Congregation, and
concluded with the Tuto decrees. He then expressed the hope that the Pope
would solemnly ratify the unanimous vote in favor of their canonization.
His Holiness then asked each individual Cardinal to give his opinion. The
Cardinals present were Granito Pignatelli di Belmonte, Lega, Sbarretti, Sincero,
Peter Gasparri, Bisleti, Ascalesi, Locatelli, Mori, Capotosti, Lauri, Lepi-
cier, Segura y Saenz, Pacelli, Marchetti-Selvaggiani, Rossi, Serafini, Dolci,
Fumasoni-Biondi, Laurenti, Ehrle, and Verde. In order of seniority the twenty-
two Cardinals expressed their individual opinions, first of all on the can-
onization of Don Bosco, and then individually on the other three. Once the
voting was over, the Holy Father congratulated them on the favorable out-
come, and set the date, January 15, 1934, for the semi-public Consistory.
After the secret Consistory, he gave orders that the public Consistory
was to begin. The doors of the Consistory Hall were opened, and the
Prelates and other people requested ad hoc entered. The Postulators and
official representatives from the Italian, French, and Spanish Embassies
also were present. Four Consistorial advocates pleaded the individual
Causes, the first being the Advocate, Guasco, on behalf of Don Bosco. After
these perorations, all of which ended with a plea to the Pope, asking him
to enter the above-mentioned Beatified Servants of God in the Book of
Saints, Bishop Anthony Bacci, the Secretary of Briefs ad Principes, replied
on behalf of His Holiness, with a classic speech in Latin. He said that the
holy Father was pleased to grant the petitions but in a matter of such
importance involving his infallible magisterium, he wished that not only
the Cardinals, but all Patriarchs, Archbishops, and Bishops who were then
in Rome, be called upon, according to custom, to express their opinion on
January 15th, while he, in the meantime, and everyone should pray to the
Holy Spirit to bestow upon the Pope the abundance of his light.1
The Assessor of the Consistorial Congregation issued a formal invita-
tion to all Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops and Ordinary Abbots living
within one hundred kilometers of Rome to come to the Holy City, in order
to cast their vote, iftheir pastoral commitments so permitted. On the appointed
day, all forty such Prelates were admitted to the semi-public Consistory,
together with the Cardinals. This time, Cardinal Fossati, the Archbishop
I App. Doc. 14.

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of Turin, was also present. The Holy Father delivered a brief allocution in
Latin, which summed up the proceedings of the four Causes, and invited
his listeners to express their opinion. Everyone present had already been
acquainted with the virtues and miracles of the holy Servants of God, both
by the perorations of the Consistorial Advocates, by the abridged lives of
the Servants of God and by reports on their Causes which had been dis-
tributed to them in advance.
The Cardinal Dean was the first to speak, and he gave his opinion on
the four Servants of God. Then came the turns of the Patriarch of Constan-
tinople and the two Latin Patriarchs of Alexandria and Antioch. Next were
the Archbishops and Bishop Assistants to the Papal Throne. Following all
the Archbishops and Bishops present, the others pronounced the ritual
formula: Placet iuxta votum a me scriptum et subscriptum (I approve with
my vote and signature), and handed the papers to the Prelate Chamberlains.
The Abbots of Monte Cassino and Subiaco thereupon read out their votes.
When the voting was finished, His Holiness expressed his satisfaction for
the unanimous decision in favor of the four canonizations, and warmly
recommended that all continue their prayers to God in connection with this
important matter. He then set the dates for the canonization ceremonies,
establishing Easter Sunday, April 1st, as the date for Don Bosco's canoni-
zation. The Cause of Don Bosco, which had lasted 44 years, was to be con-
sidered definitively concluded. It had been carried out under four different
Popes: Leo XIII, Pius X, Benedict XV, and Pius XI. Five Archbishops of
Turin had taken part in it: Cardinal Alimonda, Archbishop Riccardi, Cardi-
nals Richelmy, Gamba, and Fossati. Six different Cardinals had held the
office of Ponens or Relator: Parocchi, Tripepi, Vives y Tuto, Ferrata, Vico,
and Verde. The Postulators, all of them Salesians, had been six in all:
Fathers Bonetti and Belmonte for the Turin ecclesiastical Tribunal; Fathers
Caesar Cagliero, Marenco, Munerati, and Tomasetti for the Apostolic
Process in Rome. During those years, four Rector Majors had succeeded
the Servant of God as Superiors of the Salesian Society: Fathers Rua,
Albera, Rinaldi and Ricaldone. Only the supreme, crowning event, the
solemn ceremony of his Canonization, was still to come.
The ceremony of Canonization on Easter Sunday, which is solemni-
tas solemnitatum, the most solemn of all Christian feast days, was
completely untraditional, but the Pope so desired it and reconfirmed his
intention when people tried, respectfully, to dissuade him from it. The
Pope thought it best to end the extraordinary Holy Year that he had
proclaimed and which commemorated the nineteenth anniversary of the

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Redemption, with the glorification of this great Apostle. His reason for
doing this is evidenced by certain words uttered during his speech on
Don Bosco's miracles, when he said that "Don Bosco received a special
mandate from God, a specific mission which was to continue the work of
Redemption, to extend it, and to widely and abundantly share (with
others) the precious fruits of Redemption."
The news reached Valdocco on the morning ofJanuary 15th, and spread
instantaneously, creating great excitement everywhere. As soon as the offi-
cial confirmation was received, the Rector Major summoned his Council
and gave orders for a press release to the local newspapers, and for an announce-
ment to be sent to all the major Salesian centers throughout the world. Next,
he called on the Mayor of Turin, to bring him the official announcement.
The Mayor was delighted by his visit, and expressed joy on behalf of the
people of Turin, so full of devotion and admiration for their Saint.
Father Peter Ricaldone sent a special message to the Cooperators,
saying among other things, "We are emotionally overwhelmed when we
think that eighty-eight years ago, on Easter Sunday, April 1846, poor Don
Bosco was singing Alleluia with his little urchins beneath the humble roof
of the Pinardi shed. He will celebrate the forthcoming solemnity of Easter
in the greatest temple of Christianity, and he will be raised by the Church
to the highest honors of the Altar. Never will we be able to thank enough
the Holy Father, Pius XI, for this magnificent and ineffably gracious ges-
ture." In March, he felt obliged to write to the Cooperators once again,
inviting all of them to take part in the festivities in Rome, and subsequently,
in those which would follow in Turin. "All of us should enjoy the unfor-
gettable days of his canonization," he wrote, "by being present either
physically or at least in spirit. But all of us should be united in tender and
fraternal affection. For these will be days, not only of rejoicing, but also
days rich in blessings for all of us."
Cardinal Fossati, the Archbishop of Turin, announced the forthcoming
event to his diocesan flock in his Lenten pastoral letter. He recalled the
different features of Don Bosco's timely instructions and exhortations, and
then told his people that he would be going to Rome with a pilgrimage from
Turin, to assist at the canonization ceremony. He also added that he was
firmly convinced that the celebrations in Turin in honor of St. John Bosco
would renew the magnificent triumphs of 1929.
The newspapers began to predict that the canonization of Don Bosco
would be the greatest triumph ever witnessed for a son of Italy elevated
to the glory of the Altar.

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Q!qnpter 13
The Canonization
During the festivities for Don Bosco's Canonization, the Holy Father,
Pius XI, gave the Oratory of Valdocco a beautiful picture. At the bottom
of that picture he wrote a quotation from the Scriptures which he applied
to the Saint: Dedit ei Dominus latitudinem cordis quasi arenam, quae est
in litore mari. By this he meant to say that God had given Don Bosco a
great heart, a heart which generously shared love in a manner as abundant
as the sand on the seashore. It was precisely this boundless charity of his
that had been sustained and inspired by his ardent faith, which assured him
an "unparalleled triumph" at his canonization, and found "in the Easter
Alleluia a magnificent background and a most beautiful and becoming
setting." 1 It is our intention now to describe the main features of the historic
event in a manner neither redundant nor meager.
PILGRIMS AND DELEGATIONS
Committees worked early and hard both in Rome and in Turin, just as
they had done previously at Don Bosco's Beatification. A new develop-
ment which made everybody happy was the fact that the King and Queen
of Italy condescended to act as sponsors for all the festivities. At this time,
the main problem confronting the committees centered on the pilgrimages.
, They were expected to come even from America and many other countries.
Many Italians and foreign visitors were going to Rome for the Holy Year,
in addition to the usual crowds of tourists, and would also attend the
ceremony on April 1st. We shall restrict our account solely to the Salesian
pilgrimages.
Of these, there were three different categories: Pilgrimages from Sale-
sian schools, pilgrimages of Cooperators and past pupils, and popular large-
scale pilgrimages.
Naturally, most of the pilgrimages of all categories were from Italy. The
nine Italian Provinces of the Salesian Society organized school pilgrim-
ages. The delegation from the Roman Province was the largest, totaling
approximately 2,000 pupils. Next came the Sicilian Province with 1200
1 The words in Italics are those taken from the l'Osservatore Romano, April 23, 1934.

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
pupils. Twenty-five such groups came from abroad: Austria, Bavaria, Bel-
gium, England, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Poland, Spain, and
also from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Central America, Egypt, India, and
Palestine. All together, there were about 600 pupils from abroad. The
Salesian Prefect Apostolic, Bishop Mathias, arrived from Assam with one
native seminarian and four pupils dressed in their native attire.
The pilgrimages of the Cooperators and past pupils were divided into
three groups: Italians, Europeans, and non-Europeans. The Italian Prov-
inces organized nine pilgrimages of approximately 4,000 people. The
European Provinces separately formed their own pilgrimage: 8,000 people.
Five pilgrimages, with a total of over 1,100 persons, came from South
America and Asia.
Among the popular large-scale pilgrimages, twenty-seven came from
Italy with a total of 5,000 persons; five came from Spain, and numbered
1,200. Other such groups were from France (2,800), Germany (700), and
Great Britain (500), while smaller groups came from European countries
for a total of 5,000. Some 2,000 pilgrims came from Asia, Africa, and South
America 600 of them came from Argentina.
The foreign pilgrimages each were escorted by a Director with several
Assistants. Every pilgrim had a printed guidebook containing the itinerary,
the program, and useful information. The Argentine Pilgrims set sail from
Buenos Aires aboard the Italian ship Neptunia, which arrived in Naples
with a white flag bearing Don Bosco's name written in huge capital letters
on it and flying beside the Italian national flag on the mainmast. The Sale-
sian Prelate, Archbishop Mederlet of Madras, arrived from India aboard
the French ship Chantilly, accompanied by 504 pilgrims, all dressed in pic-
turesque native costume. There were also four Bishops and forty priests,
nearly all of them Indians, traveling with this group.
As far as the delegations which came from far and near, we shall name
only the most important among them. De Estrada, Argentina's Ambassa-
dor, received instructions from his government to officially represent his
country at the ceremony. The Brazilian Ambassador, Magalhaes de Alze-
vedo, received identical instructions from Brazil. But the most important
of all delegations was the one sent to represent the King of Italy. It was
headed by his son, Humbert of Savoy, the Crown Prince. This was the first
time since 1870 that any member of the House of Savoy attended a cere-
mony in Saint Peter's in an official capacity. The Saint of the Conciliation
deserved such an honor. The Prince himself informed Father Peter Rical-
done with the following telegram: "With heart full of deep emotion and

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sincerejoy, I shall attend tomorrow's solemn Canonization ofBlessed Don
John Bosco, Founder of the Salesian Order, in the Vatican Basilica, as
representative ofHis Majesty the King. On thisfestive occasion, I am happy
to convey these sentiments to you, the worthy Director ofthis great Order,
whose widespread and charitable work in Africa and faraway America I
have had the opportunity to know and appreciate. My sincerest best wishes
for continued future success and glorious development of your Order.
Humbert of Savoy." The Holy See made arrangements for the proper
ceremonial with which to welcome His Highness.
CELEBRATIONS IN SAINT PETER'S
Rarely, and perhaps never before, had Saint Peter's Basilica witnessed
a joyous Easter so new, so fresh, and so unexpected as the Easter of 1934.
That year, Easter brought to a close the nineteen hundredth jubilee cele-
brations of our Redemption, and at the same time it celebrated the saint-
hood of an Apostle who had made the benefits of redemption accessible
to an infinite number of souls.
In the early light of dawn, a cosmopolitan throng wound its way toward
Saint Peter's from all parts of the Eternal City. Access was granted at six
A.M. by the files of soldiers who had mounted guard outside the entrances
to the Church, in order to restrain the impatience of the crowd, and facilitate
the checking of tickets. Yet by seven forty-five A.M. 60,000 persons had
entered the Basilica and filled it to capacity. At least 100,000 others would
have to remain outside. It was like the greatest show on earth! People of
both sexes, of all ages and classes, priests, seminarians, religious, nuns,
students, professional people, blue collar workers, smartly dressed ladies
and ladies of the working class, extraordinarily varied in appearance, in
apparel, and language, stood shoulder to shoulder under the arches of the
Basilica and in the largest square of the world. However, they were all
united, sharing the heartbeat of Don Bosco and of Pius XI.
Outside the Basilica, the fast growing, throng divided its attention
between the balcony from which the Pope usually imparts his Apostolic
Blessing, and the picture of the Saint resplendent in glory. It had been
anticipated that many thousands of people, unable to enter, would be
obliged to stand in the piazza. For this reason, it had been decided to set
up an altar to the right of the steps which lead to the Church, so that Masses
could be celebrated in the open as well. At a short interval, one after the
other, two newly ordained Salesian priests, whom the Cardinal Vicar had

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
consecrated only the day before, celebrated Masses. Another measure had
been taken in view of the vast throng expected. A strong fence had been
built, stretching from one side of Bernini's colonnade to the other, dividing
the square into two sections. Admission was granted to those who were in
possession of "tickets for the square" in the section between the fence and
the steps leading up to the Basilica, a section which had been kept free.
The Pope had given his consent to this 'consolation' ticket, in view of the
immense number of people who would be unable to obtain regular admis-
sion tickets to the interior of Saint Peter's, so as to offer some measure of
satisfaction to as many thousands of the faithful as possible.
At eight A.M., hundreds of chandeliers that decorated the arches and
were hanging from the vaults and around the altar of the Confession, were
lit and gave the interior of the Basilica a fascinating touch. In the apse, at
the far end of the Church, was Bernini's 'Gloria,' where the picture of the
Blessed had hung, at the beatification ceremony. There, the representation
of the Holy Trinity was now resplendent in a blaze of light, since it is the
Holy Trinity to whom the principal honor and glory are due on the days
when canonization ceremonies are being held. The papal throne was beneath
the throne of Saint Peter's. Long tiers of seats awaited the arrival of the
Cardinals, Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, and high-ranking Prelates on
both sides of the apse, extending as far as the altar of the Confession. Six
beautiful silver candelabra, embossed by Cellini, adorned the altar, which
was otherwise decorated with sober magnificence. On the altar steps, on
the Gospel side, the Paschal Candle burned from a superb marble candle-
holder. On the opposite side, the ritual gifts donated by the Postulation,
were laid out on a table. Canvasses depicting the two miracles, already
described, hung from the galleries of St. Veronica and St. Helen.
The stands were erected all along the gigantic walls. To the right and
left of the presbyteral apse, were the boxes for Kings and Princes; then
came the boxes for the Pope's relatives, for the Diplomatic Corps, for the
Order of Malta, for the relatives of the Saint, for the Postulation of the
Cause, for the Aristocracy and Patriarchs, for special representatives and
delegations.
In the two arms of the transept, space had been reserved for pupils of
Salesian schools, and pupils of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians;
ample space had also been reserved for the Cooperators and past pupils
who were no less than twenty thousand, all in all.
Those boys gradually adjusted to the place which was extraordinarily
solemn, but they grew impatient because of the prolonged waiting time,

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and so they began to sing Don Bosco is returning and other Salesian hymns.
Out of solicitous regard for the traditions of the sacred Basilica, its custo-
dians tried to put a stop to such unprecedented and novel behavior, but
when they realized that their efforts were of no avail with that lively group
of singers, that gave up and let them have their way. Really, that was an
Easter Alleluia much in harmony with the occasion, for it was the Alleluia
of Youth, heralding the imminent glorification of the Great Father of Youth
in the ancient Basilica.
All the box seats had been filled at the moment of the illumination
already mentioned. Seated in the box seats assigned to Princes and Sov-
ereigns were the Crown Prince of Denmark, Christian Fredrick, Princess
Anne of Battenberg, with two escort ladies, the Archduchess Immaculata
of Austria, Prince Fredrick Christian of Saxony with his consort and son;
the Archduke Hubert with his consort, accompanied by the Salm Princes;
Prince Albrecht of Bavaria and his escort, accompanied by Princess Julia
of Ottingen-Wallenstein and Countess Gwendoline of Preysing with her
two sons; Prince John George of Saxony, Princess Stephanie of Belgium,
Prince Pedro of Orleans-Braganza with his consort, his son, Prince Pedro
and a Chamberlain; the Archduchess Agnes of Hapsburg-Lorraine, Prince
Alfonso of Bourbon of the Asturias and his consort, Prince Frederick
Leopold of Prussia with two members of his retinue. This last prince was
a convert. He had gone to Rome to attend Don Bosco's canonization, and
only the day before had he converted to Catholicism and renounced the
Protestant faith; he received his first Communion that same Easter Sunday
morning.
A few minutes after eight o'clock, the King and Queen of Siam made
their entrance, with three Royal princes and four members of their retinue.
Count Caccia had accompanied them in two Vatican automobiles to the
chambers of the Maggiordomo, so that they might enjoy the view of the
papal processional pageant until it was about to enter the Basilica. They
were escorted by a Cadre of Swiss Guard of Honor to the box seats reserved
for them. Although they were not Christians, these sovereigns of Siam knew
and respected the Salesian Missionaries in their kingdom, and were anxious
to render honor to their Holy Founder by attending his canonization.
At the same moment, the Prince of Piedmont was welcomed at the foot
of the Braschi staircase. His arrival was announced by three trumpet blasts.
He arrived by automobile, preceded by a dispatch rider and followed by
four more automobiles, with members of his civil and military household.
Humbert of Savoy wore the gala uniform of a general of the Italian Army,

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
with the Collar of the Annunciation, and the decorations of the Supreme
Order of Christ. He got out of his car, and saluted the banner of the Palatine
Guard, which was rendering military honors. Bishop Nardone, the Secre-
tary ofthe Congregation of Protocol, and Prince Massimo, Postmaster Gen-
eral to the Vatican,2 greeted him. They were accompanied by Count De
Vecchi, Italian Ambassador to the Holy See, followed by the Commander-
in-Chief of the Palatine Guard. The Prince reviewed the honor guard as the
band played the Royal March. As he came to the entrance at the foot of
the staircase, he shook hands with people who were introduced to him, and
then entered Saint Peter's, escorted by the Swiss Guard, preceded by a Swiss
Sergeant-Major, four carriers of the Pope's Bussola and two carriers of the
Pope's gestatorial chair. As he entered the Basilica, the Administrator of
the Basilica, Archbishop Pelizzo, assisted by the Vatican-Chapter Master
of Ceremonies, offered him holy water. His Highness himselfpassed through
the sacristy, and knelt for a brief moment in adoration before the Blessed
Sacrament exposed in the Choir Chapel. He then entered the central nave
and moved towards the grandstand only a few steps away from the papal
throne. As soon as the people recognized the representative of the King of
Italy, they burst into an enthusiastic applause to which the Prince responded
with a smile and a wave of the hand. When the Prince reached the altar
of the Confession, the boys gave him a thunderous applause. From the box
seats of the Italian delegations, the right hands were lifted in a Fascist salute.
The apse echoed with the acclamations ofthe Ambassadors and ofthe people
of Rome. The Prince, extremely polite and courteous, turned to the left and
right in grateful acknowledgement until he reached his own box; then he
knelt down very devotedly in prayer and bent his head over his clasped
hands.
While the arrivals of kings, princes, and the sons of Victor Emanuel
ill provided a pleasant relief to the long wait, the procession that preceded
the papal retinue was already advancing into the Basilica. Let us now
pause, to describe the incomparable procession.
THE PROCESSSION AND THE PAPAL RETINUE
In his paternal solicitude, Pius XI wished to arrange some satisfaction
for the people who had not yet been able to gain admission to the Basilica.
For this reason, he gave orders that contrary to custom the procession would
2 This was a title reserved for the family of Prince Massimo at the time when coach traveling was the
ordinary way of traveling. It was the Postmaster General's task to make sure that the Pope had all that was needed
for transportation at any stage of his journey.

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take a longer route from the Bronze Door of the Vatican, passing through
the square to the center of the stairway, and then on and up to the Entrance
of the Basilica of Saint Peter's. How many innovations at Don Bosco's
Canonization! Besides this, another novelty was introduced. The Vanguard of
the papal retinue is always formed by the representatives ofreligious Orders
who march slowly, holding lighted torches. At Don Bosco's Canonization,
they walked through the square, moved into the Basilica as far as the Confes-
sion altar, then turned around and moved again, only to line up to the right
and left of the route and stand as a Guard of Honor to the Pope who was
passing through. They then moved on as if they were forming some kind of
rear guard. The Religious representatives were: from the Friars of Penance,
from the Capuchins, from the Mercedarians, from the Minimi Conventuals,
Friars Minor of St. Francis, from the Augustinians, calced Carmelites, Ser-
vites of Mary, Dominicans, from the Benedictine Monks of Mount Olivet,
Cistercians, Monte Cassino and Camaldoli, from the Canons Regular of
the Lateran and of the Most Holy Savior. Additionally, as an exception
kindly authorized by the Holy Father himself, there were five hundred Sale-
sians who represented different Salesian Provinces and Missions.
After the Religious clergy there came the Diocesan clergy: students of
the Roman Seminary, members of the College of Pastors, Canons and
Benefactors of collegiate churches, the Beneficiaries of the minor and
patriarchal Basilicas, who walked behind historically famous crosses, with
their respective Church choirs singing Ave Maria Stella all along the route
and the Regina Caeli Laetare as they entered the Basilica. The procession
began to enter into the Basilica, long before the Pope ever left his private
chambers.
The procession ended with the Officers of the Roman Vicariate, headed
by the Prelate Vice-Regent, the Consultors, the Officers and Prelates of the
Sacred Congregation of Rites. Immediately behind them came the banner
of Don Bosco, which was hailed instantly by a thunderous outburst of
applause and loud shouts of Long Live Don Bosco! As soon as it came into
view, the applause and the shouting grew, spread through the square and
lasted until the banner disappeared inside the Basilica. According to an
ancient custom, this banner was borne by members of the Confraternity
of St. Michael in Bargo, and was escorted by a guard of honor formed by
the Rector Major, his Council, the Procurator General, the Postulator of the
Cause, Father Francis Tomasetti, representatives of the Turin Clergy, of the
Chieri Seminary, and of the parish of Castelnuovo d'Asti. There were also

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six Salesian Provincials holding large lighted torches. The front of the
banner represented Don Bosco "in the clouds" and kneeling before Mary
Help of Christians, in the act of invoking her protection over the Valdocco
Oratory which was painted in the lower section of the banner; on the back,
Don Bosco was depicted as standing with clasped hands, against a back-
ground of light and blue colors with the profiles of Saint Peter's and the
Apostolic Palace. As was written later, Don Bosco seemed to have been
presented by the Church for the world to see, as a model of perfection, of
sanctity, of devotion to the Roman Pontiff, of trust in God, and of filial
devotion to Mary Help of Christians.
While outside and inside the Basilica, the crowd was enthralled for 45
minutes by that fantastic pageant, the Pope left his private chambers at
eight-thirty. He was accompanied by the noble lay and ecclesiastical mem-
bers of his antechamber and was preceded by the Swiss Guard. He went
first to the Vestments Hall, where all the Cardinals had gathered. Here the
Holy Father put on the sacred vestments (white stole, white papal mantle
embroidered with gold, the precious miter), and then passed into the Sistine
Chapel, with all the Cardinals. Thereupon, he began the sacred rite. Once
the incense had been administered and the Ave Maris Stella intoned, he
took the smallest of three candles offered to him by Cardinal Laurenti,
stepped onto the gestatorial chair, and was borne behind the Papal Guard
through the Royal Hall to the Bronze Door.
The platoon of the Noble Guards, which had been detailed as Guard
of Honor at the papal altar during the ceremony, now marched into Saint
Peter's Square, so that all felt that the papal retinue was about to follow.
The crowd became silent and attentive. The first ones to make their appear-
ance were the sergeants of the Swiss Guard, followed by the chair bearers.
Then came the Chamberlains of Honor, the extraordinary Secret and hon-
orary Chamberlains of Cloak and Dagger, the Collegiate Procurators, the
Confessor to the papal household, the Apostolic Preacher, the ordinary ponti-
fical General Procurators who were carrying the triple crowns and the papal
miters, the secret clergy, the Public Advocate, the Consistorial Advocates,
the Chamberlains of both ecclesiastical secrets and honors, the Chaplain
singers, the votive members of the Papal Signature, the clerics of the Apos-
tolic Chamber, the Auditors of the Sacred Roman Rota with the Steward
of the Sacred Palaces. Next there came the Secret Chaplains who were
carrying the customary precious tiara and the customary miter of the Pon-
tiff, the Dean of the Tribunal of the Signature, swinging the thurible, the

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Prelate Auditor of the Sacred Roman Rota wearing the vestments of Sub-
deacon with a papal cross, and walking in the midst of the seven voting
acolytes ofthe Signature who were carrying candlesticks with lighted candles;
next to the Prelate Auditor there were two Master Ostiarians with Virga
rubrea, two apostolic sub-deacons between a Greek Deacon and a Greek
Sub-Deacon; then came the Penitentiaries of the Basilica wearing white
chasubles and behind two clerics who bore long staffs decorated with laurel
leaves. These were followed by mitered Abbots, Abbots nullius, Bishops,
Archbishops, and Patriarchs in white cope and miter. In all, there were eighty-
three of them, and fifteen were Salesians. Lastly there came twenty-two
Cardinals wearing dalmatics, chasubles or copes according to whether they
belonged to the Order of Deacons, Priests, or Bishops. Finally, at last, the
Pope appeared!
Borne high in the gestatorial chair, beneath a wide canopy and flanked
by gently waving feathered fans, he looked like a radiant white vision from
Heaven. He was greeted by an outcry, expressing in various languages:
Long live the Pope! The sound of the applause was so thunderous that it
nearly drowned out the ringing of the bells and the marches played by the
military bands. The Pope advanced slowly, his hand lifted in blessing and
with a smile on his lips. With his left hand, covered by silken drapery, the
Pope was carrying a lighted candle, while his right was raised rhythmically
in a sweeping, continued gesture of benediction, which seemed to embrace
the entire universe.
On either side of his gestatorial chair there were important figures of
the Pontifical Court. At the four comers of the chair marched the Swiss
Guards with the helmet, breastplate, and sabers representing the four Swiss
Cantons; then there came another numerous contingent of pontifical digni-
taries. The procession ended with a cadre of Palatine guards.
The Pope climbed the steps, bathed in warm sunlight, while countless
voices ofhis children never stopped expressing their affection for him. Another
throng impatiently awaited him inside the Basilica, a crowd made up of
the general public, authorities and young people. As the Pope appeared on
the threshold ofthe Basilica the sounds oftrumpets were heard, to be picked
up and broadcast by loudspeakers all over the square. This was yet another
innovation, although it was lesser in importance to another exceptional intro-
duction for that day and age, namely the radio broadcast of the entire cere-
mony. This enabled anyone, in any part of the world, to follow the entire
ceremony, if he so wished.

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Don Bosco' s Banner already had been enthusiastically acclaimed inside
the church with an approval which became frenzied when his beloved pic-
ture was shown to the restless crowd of boys gathered in the transept. Yet,
as soon as the Pope made his entrance into the Basilica, the first sweet,
triumphant notes of Longi' s March became audible, and the whole huge
building seemed to tremble at the roar of sixty thousand voices crying:
Long live the Pope! Visibly touched, the Pope continued, responding to the
acclamations with a sweeping gesture of benediction, done with a majestic
yet fatherly touch. When the first thunderous enthusiasm had subsided a
little, the melodious strains ofthe silver trumpets held sway over the immense
throng, and filled the soul with a feeling of recollection. How many eyes
were wet with tears! How profoundly felt was the supernatural greatness
of the Vicar of Jesus Christ! Now all attention was riveted on him, and all
eyes strained to follow his every gesture with religious intentness.
First of all, the papal procession paused at the chapel of the Blessed
Sacrament where the Holy Father alighted from the gestatorial chair to kneel
in adoration, after which the procession continued on its way. The Pope
did not descend again until he came to the papal altar; here he genuflected
by the faldstool and prayed for some minutes at the Apostle's tomb. Then
he made his way to his throne to receive the ritual act of obedience from
the Cardinals who kissed his hand; after them came the Patriarchs, Arch-
bishops, and Bishops who kissed the cross on the stole which rested on his
knee. Last of all came the Abbots, who kissed his foot. Meanwhile the choir
sang Perosi's Dignare me. Their Eminences Fumasoni-Biondi, the Prefect
of Propaganda, and Fossati, the Archbishop of Turin, assisted His Holiness
as Cardinal Deacons. After these preliminaries the ceremony of Canoni-
zation began.
THE SOLEMN DEFINITION
Following the act of obedience, a Master of Ceremonies escorted
Cardinal Laurenti, the Procurator of the Cause of Canonization, together
with John Guasco, the Consistorial Advocate, to the papal throne. The
Advocate knelt, and in the name of the Cardinal Procurator, asked the Pope
to graciously inscribe the name of Blessed Don Bosco in the calendar of
Saints. Bishop Bacci, the Secretary of Briefs ad Principes, answered such
a petition, which was made instanter, in the name of the Pope: "Whereas,
at the present day the palm of victory is often awarded to people who have

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accomplished little or nothing that is worthy of glorification, but are ac-
claimed in admiration in spite of it, this solemn celebration of a champion
of Christianity brings in itself both a solemn admonition and an example.
For the merits of Christian sanctity surpasses so immensely the fleeting
glory of the world, as immensely as heaven surpasses in beauty the Earth,
and the joys of Eternal happiness surpass the miserable pleasures of this
mortal life. It is therefore the earnest desire of the Holy Father that these
solemn ceremonies which enhance and beautify the splendor of this Jubilee
Year and multiply its animating effects, should induce each and all of us,
not only to have a higher and a more adequate concept of holiness, but
above all also to lead us to take the straight and arduous path which leads
to saintliness. This, undoubtedly, will be achieved by the canonization of
John Bosco who is the glory of Italy and of the universal Church. John
Bosco did not only strive with all his strength, and by gigantic strides to
reach the highest level of evangelical perfection, but he also brought so
many children to reach Jesus Christ, especially through the Christian Edu-
cation ofYouth. Therefore, His Holiness, even though he is eager to receive
the urgent petition you have so persistently submitted to him and is eager
to satisfy the earnest desires and supplications coming from the vast reli-
gious family of Blessed Don Bosco, nevertheless, he wishes that, in accor-
dance with the ancient custom of the Apostolic See, we now address all
our prayers to the Heavenly Court for the success of this definition." Then
the Cardinal returned to his seat while the Pope knelt down by the faldstool
in front of the throne, and the choir intoned the Litany of the Saints, with
the whole congregation on its knees alternating the responses.
The Holy Father took his place on the throne once again when the
Litany ended. Afterward, the Cardinal Procurator followed the same cere-
monial rite, and through the Consistorial Advocate, reviewed the request,
but with more insistent instantius. The Secretary of Briefs ad Principes
replied in the name of the Pope: "There is no doubt that the prayers and
the supplications addressed to the Heavenly Court have been most effec-
tive, and there is no cause to fear that what we all desire be not conformable
with the wishes of the Angels and Saints; indeed God Himself wishes to
give this glorious model of holiness to the Church Militant. Nevertheless,
although there is no cause to doubt that Blessed John Bosco now enjoys
the supreme happiness which, with the assistance of divine grace, he
merited through his holy works, nonetheless, the Holy Father wishes me
to say that before he utters the infallible pronouncement we should all

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
implore guidance from Heaven, so that this act may be performed with the
most scrupulous care." The Cardinal and the Advocate then stepped back,
and the Pope removed his miter, and returned to the faldstool. The assisting
Cardinal who stood to his left, called on everyone to pray, saying "Orate."
A brief prayer ensued while everyone knelt. Then the assisting Cardinal
who stood on the right hand of the Pope, said "Levate" [stand], and all rose
to their feet again. While two attendant Bishops held the ritual and the
candle, the Holy Father now intoned the Veni Creator.
At the end of the hymn, the Cardinal Procurator and the Advocate again
advanced to the throne, to repeat the petition for the third time, and now
with the greatest insistence [instantissime]. As before, the Secretary of
Briefs ad Principes answered them: "In the majestic splendor of this
assembly which reflects the majesty of the heavenly Court and echoes with
divine harmony, Lo and Behold! We are about to witness an event, which
shall redound immeasurably to the glory of God and the welfare of souls.
The Vicar of Jesus Christ shall, without delay, pronounce the long-awaited,
infallible word. Let us hail it on our knees, and in gratitude implore for
ourselves and for the Church Militant the heavenly graces which will today
be showered upon us more abundantly than ever before, by the hand of the
Blessed One who now contemplates the Beatific Vision." 3
To the honor of the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, to the exaltation of
the Catholic faith, and the increment ofChristian religion, by the authority
ofOur Lord Jesus Christ, ofthe Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and Our
own authority, and after mature deliberation, and reiterated entreaty for
divine aid, after listening to the opinions of our venerable brethren, the
Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, the Patriarchs, Archbishops, and
Bishops residing in the City ofRome, We decree and define Blessed John
Bosco a Saint, and we include him among the number of the Saints,
establishing that the universal Church shall honor his memory devoutly as
that ofa Saint Confessor who was not a Pope, every year on his birthday,
that is today on January 31st. In the name of the Father, of the Son and
of the Holy Ghost.4
A moment of silence, charged with indescribable emotion, followed
the words. Then, all at once, the wholehearted approval of the multitude
found expression in a mighty thunder of acclamation, accompanied by the
frenzied clapping of hands. Nothing seemed able to restrain that general
3 The Latin of the three answers is found in the Appendix (Doc. 15).
4 See App. Doc. 16.

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outburst of joy. Amid the tumult, the powerful harmony of young voices
made itself distinctly audible, soaring higher and higher until it seemed to
pierce the vaults of the Basilica. The immense crowd outside gave back
a thunderous echo. The bells of Saint Peter's and the bells of the three
hundred churches of Rome pealed festively, to inform the Eternal City that
Don Bosco had been canonized. Two carrier pigeons spread their wings,
and took off, on a flight to convey the message of the Rector Major to the
Mother house in Turin: "Vatican City, April 1st, 10:15 A.M. The Vicar of
Christ has just proclaimed Don Bosco a Saint. May He bless Turin, Italy,
the World. Rev. Peter Ricaldone."
When the tumultuous enthusiasm had abated, even among the boys
who were the last to regain their composure, the Consistorial Advocate
thanked the Holy Father in the name of the Cardinal Procurator, and
requested issuance of the Apostolic Letters. The Holy Father replied in
person with the word: Decernimus [We so order]. Whereupon the Advocate
turned to the Apostolic Notaries present and asked them to draw up the
instrument of the Act of Canonization. The Protonotary answered: Con.fi-
ciemus [We shall draw it up]; then turning to the immediate circle of people
gathered around the Pope on his throne, he called upon them to be wit-
nesses with the words: Vobis testibus. After this, the Pope intoned the Te
Deum in a high, sonorous voice, and with a youthful verve that revealed
the inner delight of his mind.
Under the baton of the great composer, Perosi, the choir continued the
hymn of thanksgiving, in a new, magnificent composition written by the
conductor, for eight voices and two choirs. The responses were chanted
alternately by the crowd in the apse, and by the throng in the vast body
of the church. Outside, in the square, the crowds felt themselves indis-
solubly linked with the people inside, thanks to the efficient action of the
loudspeakers. Up on the high balcony, bathed in sunlight, was Crida' s
canvas that depicted the new Saint in glory: Don Bosco was seen borne
by Angels above the clouds, to the feet of the Risen Jesus. The Savior's
right hand was lifted in a welcoming gesture to His good and faithful
Servant, inviting him to enter and enjoy the delights of Heaven, after the
invitation: euge, serve bone et .fidelis.
The artist had conceived a skillful composition, which reflected the
unforgettable celebration of the day: Easter, Our Redemption and the
glorification of the Saint.
Countless souls basked in the triumph of Don Bosco at that moment,
all the way from Rome to Tierra del Fuego.

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At the end of the Te Deum, the name of the new Saint was uttered for
the first time in the invocation, Ora pro nobis, Sancte Joannes which was
intoned by the Cardinal Deacon, and immediately after, it was echoed by
the Pope in his Oremus: "O God, you appointed your Holy Confessor John
a father and teacher for the young and willed that he should found in your
Church flourishing new communities under the protection of the Virgin
Mary, grant we beseech you, that enkindled by the same fire of love we may
seek souls and serve you alone." The ceremony of Don Bosco's canoni-
zation was over. The papal Pontifical Mass then began with that unique
solemnity which is found in Saint Peter's Basilica. The clock on the fa~ade
of St. Peter's struck eleven A.M.
THE POPE'S MASS AND HOMILY
The Pope stepped down from the throne and moved over to a smaller
throne on the Epistle side of the altar, blessing the congregation as he did
so. There he intoned Tierce. The pupils of the Benedictines of St. Anselm,
who were to sing the variable parts of the Mass,5 continued chanting the
Psalmody, while His Holiness donned special stockings and sandals, and
made his preparation, as all priests do. He was assisted by Cardinal Granito
Pignatelli di Belmonte, the Dean of the Sacred College; their Eminences
Fumasoni-Biondi and Fossati were ready to act as Deacon and Sub-Deacon.
After Tierce, seven Prelates acting as Acolytes moved away from the
throne, holding lighted candles; they were followed by other Prelates who
were to serve Mass at the altar. In the meantime, the Pope put on the sacred
vestments, with the help of Cardinal Verde who was to assist during the
Mass. He then approached the altar to begin the holy sacrifice, accom-
panied by the above-named Cardinals preceded by an acolyte with the
Thurible, the Greek Deacon and Sub-Deacon, and followed by the Bishops
assisting at the Throne. We should note that in all the great Basilicas of
Rome, the papal altar is built in such a way that whenever the Pope
celebrates Mass he does not tum his back on the congregation, but instead
stands facing it.
After the Penance Rite and the incensation, the Pope returned to the
larger throne, followed by the same retinue, in order to read the Introit
while the choirs of the Sistine and Pontifical chapels sang the Kyrie from
the Missa Redemptionis for eight voices and two choirs, a recent compo-
sition of Perosi, and inspired by the extraordinary event. The Holy Father
5 The Mass of St. John Bosco was composed by Fr. Ubaldi.

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listened to the chanting of the Epistle, and next that of the Gospel, first in
Latin, then in Greek. This is done to demonstrate the intimate union of the
Latin and Greek Church. After the Gospel the Pope sat down, and read his
homily in Latin.6
"Venerable Brethren, Beloved Children:
Twofold is the happiness which fills Our Heart, and which is
felt today by the universal Church on this Easter Sunday of the
Jubilee year; for as we celebrate today with solemnity the victory
of Jesus Christ over death and the powers of Hell, it is also granted
to us to end, to crown, this Holy Year which has witnessed so many
triumphs of popular Faith and Piety, with the solemn Canonization
of Blessed Don Bosco, whom We ourselves included, a few years
ago, among the Blessed, and Who, as We still recall with great joy,
has comforted, and encouraged Us in our studies in the distant years
of Our youth, when We admired him deeply for the great works
he had accomplished and for his eminent virtues. Today, We are
about to try to portray the figure of this great Saint and Apostle of
Youth with much trepidation. However, We cannot help but deline-
ate those features which, in Our eyes, appear as the characteristic
features of his marvelous life.
"He was wholeheartedly dedicated to the glory of God and
the salvation of souls. But He never faltered in the face of the
distrust shown to him by others. Rather, with daring ideas and
modem means, he strove to accomplish those original designs
which, despite their apparent boldness, he knew to be in confor-
mity to the will of God, enlightened as he was by divine inspi-
ration. He tried to win the confidence of the countless groups of
neglected boys whom he saw roaming the streets of Turin, aban-
doned to their own devices and lacking all guidance. He sought
to gain the affection, to influence their souls, with his fatherly,
persuasive words. He seasoned the joy of innocent games with
religious instruction, with an elementary education, and he taught
the boys how to approach the Sacraments in order to help them
become good Christians and honest citizens. This was the begin-
ning of the Festive Oratories which he founded, not only in Turin,
but in every neighboring city and town wherever he opened provi-
dential Houses which do so much good for Youth now, just as
they have done in the past.
6 For Latin text see App. Doc. 17.

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"He wished to give these young people a sure and honest means
to create positions for themselves in life. For this reason, he opened
professional technical schools for the children of the working classes
and academic schools for young people of the upper classes, where
they were welcomed, educated and given the chance to pursue the
path of learning by the use of a vast and sure teaching method. The
whole secret of the extraordinary, marvelous and abundant success
of Don Bosco's educational system is this: he carried out the prin-
ciples which are inspired by the Gospel and which have always
been recommended by the Catholic Church, and which We, too,
have traced out and insisted upon on so many occasions. He tried
to train his boys to become good citizens, good Christians-perfect
citizens, worthy sons of their native land, and perfect Christians
who would one day be worthy of the glorious citizenship in the
heavenly Kingdom. According to St. John Bosco, education was
not to be a purely physical education, but mainly a spiritual one:
it was not to be confined to the mere development of muscular
strength through gymnastics, nor to the strengthening ofbodily power
through sound physical exercise, but chiefly and above all, educa-
tion was to aim at exercising and strengthening the spirit by disci-
plining its disorderly impulses, by energizing Man's better tendencies,
by channeling all things toward the ideals of Virtue, of Honesty,
of Charity. His was a Holistic education which encompassed the
whole man, aiming at teaching human sciences and human disci-
plines, but never overlooking the supernatural and divine virtues.
"The Saint did not only try to accomplish such an arduous
and delicate task by using every possible means during the course
of his mortal existence, but he also entrusted it, as a sacred legacy,
to the vast religious family that he had founded, to which he also
entrusted the task of bringing the light of the Gospel and the
benefits of Christian Civilization to so many people who are still
lying in the shadows of ignorance and error.
"Faced with difficulties of all kinds, faced with derision and
scorn by so many people, he raised his luminous eyes heaven-
ward, and exclaimed: 'My Brothers, this is the work of God! This
is His Will! Therefore Our Lord is obliged to give us all the help
we need.'

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"The events which ensued confirmed the truth of his words so
irrefutably that the scorn was transformed into worldwide wonder
and admiration.
"Venerable Brothers and Most beloved Children, We have
sketched out for you the characteristic lines of the marvelous life
of this Hero of Sanctity. We now exhort all of you to be inspired
to imitate enthusiastically his virtues. In such a manner, We trust
that all of us will be able to attain those virtues of the spirit which
Jesus Christ made accessible to us through His Redemption. It is
through Redemption that all mankind, united as one family, will
be able to raise with Us the paschal canticle: We beseech you, 0
Jesus, eternal joy of our souls, to free from the death of sin those
whom you have brought back to life. Amen!"
This homily was followed by the Papal Blessing, which granted a
plenary indulgence to everyone present in the church. However, the Confi-
teor had to be said first. The ministering Cardinal Deacon chanted the
Confiteor, and in it he included the name of the Saint twice, after the names
of the Apostles Peter and Paul: Confiteor . .. Sancto Joanni and precor . ..
Sanctum Joannem. The Pope then intoned the Credo on a sure, confident
note that seemed to vibrate with the intensity of his emotion. Perosi' s Credo
enchanted all the vast assembly.
The curiosity of those close enough to witness them was now stirred
by two very original ceremonies. Before the wine and water were poured
into the cruets, a Prelate tasted both; he also swallowed two hosts after he
had touched the paten with one of them and the inner rim of the chalice
with the other. This was an ancient rite, a relic in the papal liturgy from
evil times when such prudence had been a necessary precaution against
sacrilegious attacks.
Next there was the ceremony of the offertory procession of gifts. At
the Offertory, Cardinals Pignatelli, Hlond and Dolci approached the steps
of the papal altar, where they were met by Fr. Peter Ricaldone, Fr. Tomasetti
and representatives of the Metropolitan Chapter from Turin, the represen-
tatives of the Chieri Seminary and of the Castelnuovo Parish, together with
those in charge of bringing up the ritual gifts.
The Offertory gifts were the following: five huge candles made out of
virgin wax and decorated with the Pope's coat of arms; two large loaves
of bread, two small flasks of wine and water; two gilded birdcages, one with
two turtle doves, the other with two pigeons. There was also a third silvery

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birdcage with some charming small birds. In procession, all those men-
tioned above approached the throne, while the chapel choir sang the very
beautiful Oremus pro Ponti.flee nostro Pio by Perosi. The gifts were pre-
sented to the Pope through the hands of the three Cardinals. Naturally, all
of the above gifts were symbolic. The seven candles stood for the Saints,
the true lights of the Sanctuary, who illuminate the world with the radiant
splendor of their virtues. The loaves of bread recalled the Eucharist, the
wine the warmth of Charity; the water brought to mind the tribulations
which affect the life of the just; the different kinds of birds expressed the
different requirements of holiness: the turtle doves stood for purity of heart,
the pigeons, fidelity to God; the birds signified detachment from the goods
of the earth and reliance on the wings of heavenly hopes.
After the offertory procession, the gift bearers went back to the altar,
while the papal retinue accompanied the Pope once again for the resump-
tion of the Mass. At the Preface, the two younger Cardinals of the Order
of Priests, their Eminences Serafini and Dolci, with candles in their hands,
ascended the steps of the altar and remained at the side of the Pope up to
the Pater Noster. The Cardinals' presence symbolized the Angels who
appeared at the Lord's tomb to announce the Glorious Resurrection.
Then came to sublime moment of the Consecration. As the choir
concluded the singing of the Sanctus, the curt order 'Attention' was given
to the platoon of the Noble Guard lined up at the side of the altar, and to
the other military detachments scattered in the church; shrill bugle notes
could be heard from the square where the same order had been given to
the Vatican and the Italian troops on duty there. Both inside the church and
outside as well, the unparalleled beauty of Silveri' s Largo, played on silver
trumpets, was broadcast over the loudspeakers. As the Pope bent down to
utter the sacramental words, the Noble Guards fell to their knees. It was
a moment of indescribable beauty: the immense throng knelt, rapt in one
thought of adoring and silent faith. The silence was so absolute that the
spirit felt almost overcome by it. Every eye was directed to the altar; the
officiating and assistant clergy were united in their prayers with the Pope.
Twice did the Vicar of Christ bow over the altar to consecrate first the bread,
then the wine. After each act of consecration, he raised up the Host and
then the chalice, turning to right and left to hold them for the adoration of
the faithful. Silence held the crowd in thrall until tJ:ie Agnus Dei when the
Pope moved away from the altar.
There was no answering Amen to the Per omnia prior to the Pater;
rather, the Pope chanted the Sunday prayer immediately, as prescribed by

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papal Easter liturgy. After the Agnus Dei he returned to the throne and knelt
down to await the Communion, absorbed in prayer. The ministering Cardi-
nal Deacon, who had remained on the predella, gave the consecrated Host
to the ministering Prelate Sub-Deacon; the Host had been on the paten
secured by the "asterisk," a small star-shaped clasp. The Sub-Deacon went
in procession toward the throne, and stood awaiting the Cardinal bearing
the Chalice. The Holy Father knelt in deep adoration before the Sacrament,
then stood and gave himself Communion, by partaking of both the sacred
species, but only a portion of the Host, and a small portion of the Wine
through a small gold cannula tube. After a few moments of recollection,
he administered the other portion of the Host to the Cardinal Deacon and
the Prelate Sub-Deacon, who then returned to the altar, bearing the paten
and chalice. At the altar, the former drank some of the remaining Wine
through the cannula, while the latter drank what remained directly from
the chalice. Meanwhile the choir of the Sistine Chapel finished singing the
heavenly Agnus Dei by Perosi.
After the Ablution, for which the Assisting Cardinal Bishops held the
water dish, the Pope approached the altar for the last time, followed by his
retinue, to finish the Mass with the final prayers and blessing. While he was
making his own after Mass thanksgiving, three Canons of Saint Peter's
Basilica exposed for the veneration of the faithful the sacred relics of the
Passion that are treasured there, holding them between lighted candles on
the balcony of St. Veronica. The relics of the Passion are: a piece of the
iron lance which pierced the side of Jesus just after His death, a remarkable
piece of the true cross and some of Veronica's veil. When the silvery
tinkling of two bells from the gallery indicated that the exposition was over,
the Pope moved to perform the last of all the sublime ceremonies of that
day; this was the Papal Blessing, imparted from the outside balcony of
Saint Peter's.
THE POPE'S BLESSING "URBI ET ORBI"
There is an ancient tradition which calls for the Pope to impart from
the exterior balcony of Saint Peter's the blessing urbi et orbi [for Rome
and for the world] on Easter Sunday and on a few other very special
occasions. It had been suspended after 1870. But Pius XI, on the day in
which he had been elected Pope, almost foreseeing the conciliation which
took place seven years later, wanted to impart his first blessing from that
same balcony, instead of doing it from within the Basilica, as his last three
predecessors had done. He did this on Easter Sunday, 1934.

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At the end of the Mass, the Pope placed the triple crown on his head
and stepped into the gestatorial chair. But before the chair-bearers lifted
the chair on their shoulders, the Archpriest of the basilica, Cardinal Pacelli,
approached the Holy Father and handed him a silken purse edged with gold
which contained a sum of money equivalent to twenty-five Julians,7 pro
Missa bene cantata, so he said. This was the traditional alms given for a
solemn papal Mass.
The procession now moved toward the exit. First came the Cardinals,
flanked by the Swiss Guards, just as they had been when they entered.
Around the gestatorial chair there were the noble members of his ante-
chamber and the Master of Ceremonies. The crowd directed its attention
to the central nave and renewed its demonstration of love and loyalty to
the Vicar of Jesus Christ with an enthusiasm which bordered on giddiness.
The Pope was so moved by it that he bade the chair-bearers tum the
gestatorial chair around when he reached the threshold leading into the
vestibule, to look once more at the magnificent spectacle and to greet
everyone. The echo of their acclamations followed him as he returned to
his chambers.
Immediately the crowds moved out of the Basilica. The streams of
people exiting the church filled the area which the soldiers had kept free
on the steps for that purpose. As soon as the silver trumpets were stilled,
the Crown Prince of Italy left the Basilica for the Apostolic Palace, to await
the blessing, but before he did so, he had begged Father Peter Ricaldone
to hold for him the cage with the little birds. The royal family of Siam, too,
was ushered into one of the halls of the Vatican, with their retinue. The other
princes, the members of the diplomatic corps, and the authorities as well,
also had their reserved meeting places. Sadly, a downpour of rain had
driven away the radiant morning sunshine. Yet the crowd did not budge.
They did not have to wait very long. As soon as the glass doors leading
to the balcony opened up, the air was rent by a formidable, interminable
ovation which burst like a storm. The clock of Saint Peter's was striking
one-thirty P.M., when the Pope, preceded by the processional cross, ap-
peared in his gestatorial chair, still in his pontifical robes and triple crown.
He was surrounded by the Cardinals. The gestatorial chair with the canopy
on top was flanked by snow-white feather fans. Those who did not have
7 The Julian was a golden coin first minted by Pope Julius II (1503-13). Its worth was equivalent to 56
centesimi.

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the good fortune to witness this scene will never be able to imagine the
wave of enthusiasm which swept that enormous crowd, nor imagine the
applause, the shouts of acclamation and the tears, which greeted the Holy
Father's appearance.
The gestatorial chair was placed on a platform in the vault of the arcade
so that the Pope could be seen by all. He raised both hands in a paternal
gesture of greeting. The Master of Ceremonies motioned to the crowd
asking for silence, and the crowd obliged and became recollected as though
it were inside the church. The Holy Father's solemn voice, as he uttered
the words of absolution and the blessing formula, was carried by loud-
speakers to the furthest bounds of the immense square. That blessing was
extended far and wide to reach all the faithful children of Mother Church,
scattered all over the world. At once, a shout arose that seemed to rend the
clouds. For a bit longer the Pope lingered; he smiled, he waved his hand
and greeted the crowd. Finally the vision disappeared! The great bell of
Saint Peter's filled the humid air with its thunderous and joyous peal, while
hundreds of festive bells responded from all the churches of Rome.
Everything was over, but Don Bosco is a Saint! The endless flood of
humanity began to move. It parted and faded away. From the sacristy
arcade, one after another emerged the automobiles carrying Royal Heads,
Princes, Cardinals and other authorities. Father Peter Ricaldone had the
silver cage delivered to the Prince's car, and the melodious little creatures
dwelling within would henceforth carry the echo of Don Bosco's canoni-
zation into the Royal Palace.
That night, the other Basilicas of Rome and all the churches were ablaze
with lights; only St. Peter's remained dark; the bad weather had prevented
the lighting of the torches. The spectacular illumination was postponed until
the following day. We have already described this event on the occasion
of the beatification of Don Bosco.
At the Oratory of Valdocco, the Superior, pupils, Cooperators and past
pupils had gathered in the theatre, in the Church of St. Francis, or were
scattered in the playgrounds. They all had followed the entire ceremony
over the loudspeaker system. The same happened in every one of the Sale-
sian Houses. The flight of the carrier pigeons must have been hazardous
because of the terrible atmospheric conditions. Only one pigeon reached
its destination at four o'clock on April 2nd; its claws were caked with mud.
The other was discovered later in the countryside around Lucca; it was

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wounded in one wing by rifle shot. The person said to have found it dis-
covered the little tube which contained the message, and forwarded it to
the Director of the Oratory, as indicated on the address.8 Someone took
accurate note of the precise moment in which the Pope had pronounced
the words Sanctorum catalogo adscribimus, and later informed the Rector
Major of it in a letter dated May 14th: "I have followed the canonization
of Don Bosco by radio and I was moved. The idea came to me that I should
take note of the exact moment in which the Holy Father pronounced the
formula of canonization. It was precisely 10:06 A.M. when he finished the
proclamation." The writer was the renowned Director ofthe Ximenian Obser-
vatory of Florence, Father Guy Alfani of the Pious Schools.
FATHER PETER RICALDONE ADDRESSES
ALL THE SALESIANS
Before that triumphant day was over, Father Peter Ricaldone had already
prepared the address he wished to direct to all the Salesians. He realized
perfectly well that the bulletins carried by the press were not going to be
sufficient to satisfy what the hearts of all Salesians wanted to hear. He knew,
therefore, that it would be a harbinger of great joy to hear an intimate word
from Don Bosco' s successor.
Easter, 1934:
O dies felix memoranda fastis!
O Blessed day! 0 day of supreme glory! Of ineffable joy!
Don Bosco is a Saint!
The Holy Father, Pius XI, has proclaimed it from Peter's infallible
chair. The whole of the Christian world has rejoiced with an enthusiastic
outburst of veneration. The annals of the Church, the annals of the Salesian
Society, have marked that glorious day with golden letters. Foretold and
almost foretasted by the Saint's contemporaries, the joy of this day will
be the object of envy for all posterity.
Gaudeamus omnes in Domino, diem festum celebrantes sub honore
Sancti Joannis [let us all rejoice in the Lord, and celebrate the canonization
of our beloved Father, Don Bosco].
Our Jubilation could not be more justified or holier than it is.
8 The pigeon that arrived at its destination was of the Bricoux variety and its number was 65,299. In 1933,
it was set to flight at five o'clock, from Privemo (Naples), and reached Turin that same evening. In our case, the
two pigeons were set to flight shortly before midday, but night had overtaken them before they reached their
destination. It is a known fact that pigeons do not fly during the night hours. They had been forced to look for shelter
and this explains their interrupted flight.

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As our hearts beat with joy on seeing the sanctity of our Father sol-
emnly recognized by the Church, as our eyes contemplate the beloved
figure of the Saint who, from among the ranks of other holy men summoned
by God, stands out as a giant set to go his way qui inter suscitatos sanc-
tissimos viros vere surrexit sicut gigas ad currendam viam, may our spirits,
soaring along the ways of the firmament, reach the heavenly Jerusalem
where, in a sea of light, St. John Bosco shines radiantly like the sun, sicut
sol ... in perpetuas aetemitates, for all eternity. There, where each star is
sharply distinct from all other stars, omnis stella . . . a stella differt in
claritate, we will be able to capture the main features of his sanctity,
appreciate its fruits, and wonder at the extraordinary reward bestowed on
him by God.
Truly, the essence of sanctity cannot be other than that which was
established by the Saint of Saints, that is, love of God, and love of one's
neighbor: two loves which, intertwined, form only one love. All pillars of
Christian perfection, from the most ordinary to the most heroic, are based
on these two fundamental precepts. However, every Saint lives by this
twofold commandment as though it were only the commandment to love,
according to the individual mission received from God. In the case of St.
John Bosco Diliges Dominum Deum tuum [Love your God] and Diliges
proximum tuum [Love your neighbor] were translated into this formula:
work for the glory of God, for the well-being of souls. And work he did
for this glory, for this well-being, with a life that was full of faith and zeal.
Faith, which is the foundation of all sanctity, was undoubtedly a lamp
unto his steps, as the psalmist puts it. In the light of his faith, his spirit was
rapt in the contemplation of revealed Truths; his will was always directed
towards ways attuned to the Divine Will. Therefore, whether he spoke,
wrote, or worked, his spirit never wavered between God and his ego,
between Heaven and Earth, between the eternal and the temporal, between
duty and pleasure, but it immediately sped toward God, Father and absolute
Lord of all. Whence he drew the exact rule as to how he should conduct
himself in everything that was infected by relativity and earthiness. I mean
to say that he never looked for himself in anything; he never looked for
his comfort, his satisfaction, his self-interest, but he gave all his time,
energy and efforts to serving the Lord in the best way possible, working
in the fields assigned to him by Divine Providence.
Don Bosco's specific sphere of activity was the salvation ofYouth through
a thorough Christian education. He certainly ministered to the needs of any

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soul with whom he had either direct contact or through the involvement
of his sons. But his apostolic heart was concerned mainly with the souls
of the young. God alone knows how many and what kind of sacrifices he
made looking for young people most in need of his priestly care or putting
them up in a safe place, far from all kinds of dangers to their virtue, or
sacrifices made surrounding himself with reliable and numerous collabo-
rators who would help him to carry out such great and providential work.
He sacrificed everything, his sleep, nourishment, health, and comfortable
way of life solely because of a supreme desire to assure the welfare of
Youth in every way.
Those features, which appear to be the ordinary aspects of Don Bosco's
sanctity, such as his habitual communion with God, his unwavering com-
posure, no matter what might happen, his boundless fatherliness, his indus-
trious spirit which never cried 'enough,' all of those features stemmed from
his ardent charity, which, nourished by his fervent faith, led him to put
before all other considerations God, and the interests of God.
Such genuine, extraordinary holiness could not fail to bear but similar
fruits. And here a second consideration should be brought to our attention.
When good will and divine grace blend in a Christian soul, then virtuous
deeds naturally ensue. And if the Christian is also a Saint, a man, that is,
who directs his conformity with divine help up to the point of heroism, then
there ensues almost a competition between God who gives help and the
creature who acts upon it, and the outcome is the birth of all sorts of the
most wonderful activities which produce good and lasting benefits for the
Church to enjoy.
The first fruit of Don Bosco's holiness was Don Bosco himself. By this
I mean that he was the personification of all the remarkable virtues widely
pointed out by eyewitnesses and confirmed by historical documents. "Don
Bosco looks like Our Lord." That is what innocent boys were saying as
though moved by supernatural intuition. And this is what was confirmed
by the observations of grown men. And if our filial affection does not blind
us, we would be inclined even to say that at every stage of his life, Don
Bosco attained the fullest degree of perfection possible to human frailty,
and commensurate with his years and his tasks.
The other fruit of Don Bosco's sanctity is the extension of himself
which we all see, that is, the sum total of undertakings which still live on
in his spirit. Though he began with nothing, Don Bosco left behind him
a series of achievements which, animated by his life-giving spirit, are
destined to grow and to multiply like all living things, adapting themselves

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to the nature of the times, to the condition of the places, and to the character
of the people dealt with. Anyone who has the slightest knowledge of Don
Bosco's works is aware of the productive power of his sanctity.
Thirdly, what are the rewards produced by Don Bosco' s sanctity? Of
course, we are not going to say that Virtue is a reward unto itself and that
the greater the Virtue, the greater the contentment enjoyed by the one who
puts it into practice. This is a true and well-known fact; it has been pro-
claimed even by the followers of a pagan school of philosophy, though they
were not the only ones to proclaim it. The witness provided by a good
conscience is the source ofthat inner contentment which abundantly makes
up for all the sufferings generated by the adversity and by the malice of
men. Don Bosco enjoyed this reward for his sanctity. He, too, experienced
the joy of the Apostles who ibant gaudentes [they walked on with joy]
when digni habiti sunt pro nominee Jesu contumeliam pati [they were
considered worthy to suffer insult for the name of Jesus]. Sanctity turns
suffering into a test of love, and for the one who loves, suffering is joy.
This is a great reward for sanctity, not only because its effect is imme-
diate, but because it contributes greatly to increase the merit of a far greater
reward, the merit of the supreme reward which God reserves in Heaven
for his elect. The whole life of a Saint is spent in storing up treasure for
Heaven. If not even one cup of cool water given for the love of God to one
who is thirsty shall go unrewarded, who can measure the eternal reward
given to a life such as that of Don Bosco, who spent his in total, pure self-
sacrifice amid the fiery flames of charity? Certainly it did not surprise any-
one when, at the moment of Don Bosco' s death, souls dear to God were
allowed to see Him enter into his glory, in an unparalleled triumph, although
at that time they did not know that he had passed away.
God, Who rewards all things justly, does even more than this in rewarding
sanctity. The Saints who have done so much and have suffered so much
for his passing glory here on earth are crowned by God with a special glo-
rious halo, which brings upon them the veneration of and the imitation by
mankind. The cult paid to Saints elevates them, these heroes of God, to the
highest and most radiant throne on the sacred altar of God's Temple. Piety
bends its knee before them and eloquence sings their praises. Don Bosco,
that humble and poor Don Bosco, that Don Bosco overwhelmed with troubles,
behold that Don Bosco who now is glorified by the whole world, due to
God's Munificence and the mediation of His Church.
I would like all of us to reflect well on one thing. To magnify the
sanctity of Don Bosco in all its features, in all his fruits, in all his rewards,

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is a need of our heart before being a debt of gratitude. However, we must
not stop here, and we should ask ourselves instead: where was the secret
of his so high a sanctity? I have no hesitation whatsoever to say that we
must look for this secret in his steadfast response to God's Grace. From
his childhood, Don Bosco was extraordinarily sensitive to supernatural
influences which led him to prayer, to the Sacraments, which made him
abhor sin and try to help his neighbor both spiritually and materially. As
a student he renounced the things of the world and devoted himself entirely
to aspirations which certainly were not inspired by his flesh and blood.
Throughout all the many, widely varying events of his priestly ministry,
and in all the many undertakings done at the service of the Church and of
souls, his gaze was always fixed on high, directed to the Father of Lights
and the Giver of All Perfect Gifts, always intent on obeying inspirations
from above. He was always alert, fearful lest he neglect even the smallest
grace bestowed on him by God.
This is the point which should get all our attention as we contemplate
the glorified sanctity of Don Bosco. We received an incommensurable
grace when we were called to live a Christian life, and we know that this
grace is linked, irrevocably, with an infinite sequence of other graces.
However, all these graces are subject to the measure with which we faith-
fully respond to them. Let us not allow God's Grace to be neglected.
Making that resolution will be the most precious fruit produced by such
a great feast.

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Qtqapter 14
Events That Occurred in Rome After the Canonization
During the three days following Don Bosco's Easter celebration, three
events were added which helped to enhance even further the glory of the
new Saint: the honors received at Capitol Hill, an unusual papal audience,
and a lasting tribute ofgratitude paid to the Pope. In the meantime, in the
Basilica of the Sacred Heart the traditional triduum, which is ordinarily
celebrated immediately after a canonization in the Holy City, was in prog-
ress with typical Roman grandeur.
THE HONORS PAID TO DON BOSCO AT THE CAPITOL HILL
The Capitol Hill, steeped in historic memories of triumphant warriors
and the crowning of poets, had never witnessed the glorification of a Saint.
The reason for this was very obvious. Prior to the year 1870, the Pope, even
though he was also the civil ruler of Rome, did not find it necessary to
render new Saints additional honors different from those already rendered
to them in the foremost temple of Christianity. After the year 1870, such
an omission was even more understandable and it resulted from the conflict
which split the two powers in the capital of the Catholic world. No Gover-
nor of Rome would conceive the idea of rendering a civil homage to any
Saint, no matter whether or not the Saint happened to be Italian or even
a great Italian. But tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur cum illis [times
change and we change with them]. After February 11, 1929, Italy had
become a different Italy. The country had recaptured its spiritual unity, the
true soul of its political unity, and it had recaptured it in a way most befitting
an all-Catholic nation. In such a rejuvenated atmosphere nothing could
have been more natural for the State than to recognize the honor bestowed
on Italy by the worldwide glorification of a Saint like Don Bosco. Particu-
larly so, since it was well-known how Don Bosco, in those most difficult
times, had used his wisdom, when very actively he was involved in the
conciliation proceedings, a conciliation which was to create a new climate
for the entire country. The Head of the Italian Government had been the
first to re~lize how opportune it was, not only not to be absent, but also
to actually participate in such festivity with all the decor befitting a Fascist
Regime. This is the reason why Mussolini, to one who had suggested the

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use of the Augusteum to honor Don Bosco, answered that the Capitol was
the only place where Don Bosco should be honored, adding that he himself
would attend the Ceremony.
And so, during the afternoon of April 2nd, excitement waxed intense
on the historic hill. The balconies had been draped with tapestries, as they
were decorated for solemn, festive occasions. The Julius Caesar Hall, where
the ceremony was to take place, was soberly hung with the colors of the
city, and its ornamental plants of great value provided a joyful sight for
everyone's eyes. The chairs for Mussolini and the main Fascist leaders had
been arranged on one side ofthe Presidential table, while seats for members
of the Sacred College who were to honor the occasion were placed on the
other side.
At an early hour, the hall was already crowded with a variety of distin-
guished guests. Admission was granted only upon presentation of a per-
sonal invitation from the Governor of Rome. Among the invited guests were
the President of the Senate. Federzoni, and his wife; the president of the
Italian Academy, Marconi, with his wife; the Papal Nunzio to the Quirinal,
Borgoncini Duca; the Minister of National Education, Ercole; the Duke of
the Sea, ChiefAdmiral Thaon di Revel; and then the members of the Acad-
emy, the Senators, the Parliamentary Deputies, the Generals, the Mayors
of Turin and Castelnuovo, Prelates and authorities from Vatican City, Bish-
ops, and Superiors or representatives of religious or monastic Orders. This
assembly of distinguished guests certainly was a wonderful spectacle to
behold. Five Cardinals, arrayed in purple robes, entered from an adjoining
Chamber. They were: Peter Gasparri, who wore the Collar of the Order of
the Annunciation, Henry Gasparri, Fumasoni-Biondi, Fossati, and Hlond.
They were joined by Prince Chigi, the Grand Master of the Order of the
Knights of Malta.
The ceremony was to commence at four o'clock, and Mussolini arrived
punctually on the stroke of the hour, to be met by a prolonged, enthusiastic
ovation. Those who sat next to him were among others the Governor of
Rome, Prince Boncompagni, our Rector Major, Father Peter Ricaldone,
and the official speaker, Count De Vecchi, the Italian Ambassador to the
Holy See. As soon as the applause died down, the Count rose to his feet
and delivered his speech, which was listened to with great attention from
beginning to end. His theme was this: "Don Bosco is an Italian Saint, and
the most Italian of Saints." A whole nation claims him for its own even
though his mighty spirit is present all over the world, to the point that this

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Italian perfection of his has actually become Romanitas [Romanity]. His
religious glorification has been carried out with a kind offestive celebration
and solemnity absolutely new in all the nineteen centuries of the Church's
existence, and Italy had taken part in it as never before. The grandeur of
the divine magisterium finds its extension with the honors of Capitol Hill
decreed for this Saint by the Fascist Government. His sanctity alone, with
the features which distinguished it, would entitle him to receive the hospi-
tality of this august palace, but he would still be a great Italian even without
the attributes of sanctity. It is for this reason that he is a citizen of this
Capitol Hill.
He then remarked, "Don Bosco does not lose, but actually gains in
stature, when we look at him from the background of the land of the people
he came from, and when we look at him from the perspective of his activity
among the historic men of his day, not simply as a synthesis of the past,
or as living within an historic period long gone, but as a prophet, as a sower,
as a builder of the future." Moreover, the Count recalled the humble birth
of the Saint and described with a heart still heavy with emotion the poor
little house which he had had the joy to visit. Then he went on to outline
Don Bosco's figure within the historic background of the Italian Risorgi-
mento. He gave a detailed account of Don Bosco's moral constitution of
the characteristic elements of his land, the Monferrato, and of the complex
play ofinfluences drawn from his times and the environment where he lived
and where he displayed his multiform activities. The Orator saw in all the
trials and contrasts through which Don Bosco had to blaze a trail the way
of Divine Providence, which was gradually training him to undertake his
wondrous mission. He also singled out with clarity his political influence
in smoothing relations between Church and State during the crucial years
of the Unification of Italy. "In Don Bosco' s opinion," he said, "no abyss
existed between Church and State, between Italy and God, which could not
be filled, not even in the darkest and most difficult hour. It was with this
conviction that Don Bosco kept on going, rendering service to God and the
State alike, comforting Popes and Bishops, shedding light on and providing
peace for the souls of the faithful, persuading men in government to be
more conciliatory in their attitude, uniting for the young people he educated
the two great loves, Religion and Patriotism." The speaker did not omit to
single out the fact that such a spirit of conciliation has always been, and
still is, the spirit of the Congregation that he had raised by God's design,
so that, as Pius IX had said, "a way might be found to give unto God that

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which belongs to God, and to Caesar what belongs to Caesar." "This
explains the consolidation and prodigious development of this Congre-
gation, even in the most difficult times." As he spoke about and stressed
this development, De Vecchi termed it 'prodigious' and said, "Don Bosco' s
vital, enduring, prodigious and far-reaching miracles are the houses, the
agricultural fields, the workshops, the undertakings which conquer hearts
and which are continuously rejuvenated by his sons and his Cooperators
in every comer of the world with a simplicity which projects the very figure
of the Saint." He then reviewed briefly the empire of benevolence Don
Bosco had created, and took his listeners back to the humble birthplace of
the Saint, only to bring them to consider the last and recent undertaking
carried out at Littoria. The enthusiastic, prolonged applause given by
Mussolini was the signal for an outburst of unanimous applause by the
entire audience. Mussolini treated Father Peter Ricaldone with an inde-
scribable graciousness.
The honors rendered by the government did not end with the exaltation
expressed at the Capitol Hill, but were followed by something worthy of
a special mention. When His Majesty inaugurated the XXIX Legislative
Session at the Montecitorio Palace on April 28th, he alluded to the Capitol
Hill event in the speech of the Crown where he said: "The harmony and
understanding between the civil and religious authorities have been strength-
ened, as the recent great celebrations have proven. The Conciliation consti-
tutes an essential factor in Italian history." The King's solemn expressions
were matched as a commentary to this by the words expressed in the Sen-
ate's response: "Harmony, spirit of unity, and justice are the precious gifts
which Divine Providence has bestowed on our country: they stand as the
garrison of this new, historic Era and the conciliation with the Church is
their foundation. The Senate has participated with deep appreciation in the
manifestations of this harmonious spiritual understanding that exists between
civil and religious authorities-so clearly evidenced both in the recollected
splendor of Saint Peter's, in the very presence of the august Head of Chris-
tianity, and in the Roman grandeur of Capitol Hill, in the presence of the
Head of the Italian Government-for the celebration of Christian and civil
glory of the most Italian of Saints. The presence of Your Majesty's repre-
sentative, in the person of the Crown Prince, who guarantees with certainty
the future of both the nation and the dynasty, was a moving token of this
same harmony.'' In the light of these memories, how gigantic does the his-
torical figure of Don Bosco stand out!

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THE AUDIENCE WITH THE POPE
A papal audience, held in Saint Peter's, was yet another of the many
innovations connected with Don Bosco's canonization. On April 3rd, Pius
XI received in audience all the pilgrim groups which had been organized
by the Salesians. The papal throne had been set up for the occasion before
the altar of the Confession, while the central aisle served as a reception hall.
Wide as it was, the central aisle was not broad enough to accommodate
the thousands of pilgrims. And so several hundred pupils from the Salesian
schools were lined up on either side of the central aisle. But not even this
solved the problem, and two more spacious sections of the church in the
two arms of the transept had to be made available. At the side of the throne
and around it the following found their places: Cardinal ffiond, Father Peter
Ricaldone, a dozen Salesian Bishops, Father Francis Tomasetti, the mem-
bers of the Superior Chapter, the Provincials, the Mother General of the
Daughters of Mary Help of Christians with her Council, and several Moth-
ers Provincial, Senator Count Rebaudengo, and the Attorney, Felix Masera.
At noon the word passed through the waiting throng: "The Pope!" A
moment later, lo and behold! the Holy Father appeared seated in the gesta-
torial chair. How much frenzied joy did the young people show! As the
Pope passed, there were acclamations, outbursts of applause and hurrahs !
The contingent from the Oratory in Turin had been the first to cry, "Long
live Don Bosco's Pope!" At those words the Pope turned his head in their
direction, obviously pleased. No sooner did he sit than the Rector Major
addressed the following words to him:
"Most Blessed Father:
Your august voice, which from Peter's infallible throne declared
Don Bosco a Saint, to an immense, jubilant crowd during the most
solemn and most radiant feast of the Catholic liturgy, still echoes
sweetly in our hearts.
"There are no words which can convey to Your Holiness the
joy, the deep and lasting gratitude, of the Salesian Family.
"Your Holiness, here we are but an infinitesimal part of the
Salesian Family. We are gathered around you to express our deepest
feelings of devotion and to assure you of our warm, filial devotion.
"These are your children and they have come from all comers
of the earth, even from its remotest shores, to represent hundreds
of thousands, or rather millions, of hearts, that, under all skies and
from all shores, sing jubilantly Rosanna's to the Pope who canon-
ized Don Bosco.

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"We already had an understanding of the sanctity and mission
of Don Bosco, who was a Father to us here on earth, and whom
we now invoke as our Patron in Heaven. This comprehension came
to us through personal knowledge, through the traditions handed
down to us, and through reading his Biographical Memoirs. But
today, his image appears to us more sublime than ever before.
"By the singular goodness of Your Holiness, Don Bosco's
canonization was carried out in a variety of ways which projected
his person and his work with a light which is a source of example
and benefit for the whole world. For this we feel compelled to
exclaim: What a great Father have we, we humble and fortunate
children of his!
"All these things of course will inspire us to deepen our knowl-
edge of his life, to imitate him, and to follow faithfully and eagerly
in his footsteps. These are the footprints which Your Holiness has
with a new and radiant splendor so clearly presented to us.
"Most Blessed Father! As I humbly kneel before you, I thank
you earnestly in the name of all the Salesians, of the Daughters of
Mary Help of Christians, of their pupils, their past pupils, and in
the name of all of our Cooperators, for this immense grace, and
for the paternal kindness you have shown to us always and in so
many different ways, and I promise you that at all times and under
every circumstance, we shall persevere in our imitation of the
filial, devoted, and unconditional submission to you, which our
saintly Father has bequeathed to us as his heritage. As I confirm
this in the name of us all, I invoke the grace of your apostolic
blessing for myself and for each and for all of us."
The Schola Cantorum of the Seminary students of philosophy and
theology at this time sang the Acclamations and Oremus pro Ponti.flee to
which the Pope listened with evident satisfaction. Then he hinted that he
wanted to speak. Immediately, a deep and devoted silence fell. The entire
throng was able to hear distinctly all that the Vicar of Christ said, thanks
to the loudspeakers. But the affection we had for him gave to his words
an impact that no person could adequately express. This is how the Pope
began:
"Beloved children, We see you once again in this magnificent
place, but no longer in the context of the splendid, marvelous and
Sacred Rites of the Canonization. We see you once again in an

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atmosphere of radiant and, we might add, overwhelming joy and
filial piety. As you can see, We arranged for your reception the
largest, loveliest, and most stately of all the reception halls of the
world. We did not think that this would be too excessive in view
of all that should be done in honor of your and Our great Saint
John Bosco; We did not think that it was too much to provide a
reception for such a distinguished and so honorable an assembly,
one also impressive as far as its number, for such a choice group
of Don Bosco's sons who have come from all parts of the world,
even from the most remote regions. This is extremely beautiful
especially for Us, because your presence and all We have heard
mentioned in the previous address makes Us feel in a vibrant way
what We have only rarely felt, that is, the sense of the universal
fatherhood that Divine Providence has wanted to hand on to Us.
Not only do you come here from all parts of the world, but you
all belong to the many and varied branches of this mighty family,
or better still, these mighty families of Don Bosco, rather of St.
John Bosco, whom the world will always continue calling simply
'Don Bosco' (applause). This is good, because to mention his
name is like mentioning a military title, but a title in a military
conflict intended to do good, one of those wars which, We could
say, from time to time Divine Providence grants to poor humanity
as though to compensate for those other wars which are not meant
to do good in any way, but only to cause sorrow and to sow seeds
of suffering.
"Dear children, We were mentioning the diversity and the
various branches of the great Salesian Families, but We should
also mention the different degrees in rank: the Priesthood, the
Episcopate, the Cardinalate, which makes it wonderfully and per-
fectly complete.
"What is there for Us to say, dear Children, over and above
that which your presence here tells Us already? For your presence
is so eloquent that even in this almost tangible silence, We per-
ceive your eager impatience for a paternal word from Us. What is
there for Us to say, as We stand here once again in this magnifi-
cent temple which still retains the echo of the glorious canticles
directed to your wonderful Father, when it is only yesterday that
a marvelous series of events came to crown in an unparalleled
way your hopes, your desires? Lest We feel remorse for having

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lost such a beautiful occasion to deliver some words useful to
your souls, We will say what St. John Bosco himself teaches you
so eloquently with his own image, just as he is visibly accessible
to all spirits, and as he speaks to all hearts.
"Your Don Bosco and our Don Bosco was canonized at a provi-
dential, at an extraordinarily appropriate moment, and brought the
Holy Year ofRedemption to a fitting close. Undoubtedly, this beloved
Saint ofyours and ours has gained immensely by the series of circum-
stances and events connected with his Canonization.
"There was, first of all, an encounter between the Divine Re-
deemer, the Divine Captain, who is the original source of all sanc-
tity, of every apostolate, of all Good, and a faithful Servant of His,
a bold warrior from His holy wars. In one way, We could say that
Don Bosco has come to render to the Divine Redeemer all that he
owed to him, just as We owe everything to him. Because all sanc-
tity, every martyrdom, and all Good, begins with Him. Every bit
of good that still remains in this world, even though perverted by
pagan characteristics, every degree of good that remains in this
civilization stems from Him, from His cross, from His heart, from
the Blood of the Redeemer, through whom civilization still con-
tinues to be a Christian civilization.
"Don Bosco came to pay tribute to his Captain, his Lord, his
leader; and the Divine Redeemer disposed things in such a way
that He Himself should come, almost at the close of this Holy Year
of Redemption, to crown the merits of His faithful Servant, to ful-
fill the divine promises made by Him to all those who serve Him
faithfully. A wonderful encounter! How wonderful, how sublime,
how perfectly suited to the setting of the Holy Year, to the setting
of all that pageant of sanctity which has escorted the Redeemer
everywhere during the Jubilee of our Redemption! It constitutes
one of the loveliest, most delectable, and fragrant fruits of redemp-
tion, offered in homage to the very Source of all Sanctity. For this
reason it is from Him that each one of us, and especially you who
are linked by so many ties to this beloved Saint of ours, should
learn what is the specific fruit of this Holy Year, a fruit different
from all others, and distinguished for you by the glorification of

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your beloved Father, your Patriarch. How appropriate is this fruit
for you in this Holy Year, which one might well describe as the
'Salesian Holy Year' (thunderous applause).
"For everyone, and therefore for you, too, the first fruit is the
fruit of the holy indulgences. We should not fail to reflect on this
priceless treasure with deep humility and with feelings of embar-
rassment, because the words 'indulgence,' 'great indulgence,' 'the
greatest amount ofindulgence,' mean 'forgiveness,' 'a great amount
of forgiveness,' 'the greatest amount of forgiveness.' Forgiveness
for what? For our sins, especially for our mortal sins. Who among
us can say that there is no need offorgiveness? That would be equiva-
lent to saying that there are no sins, while the Holy Spirit says that
he who states that he is without sin does not tell the truth.
"But this Holy Year of our Redemption should tell us some-
thing even more special. And indeed this Holy Year has already
proclaimed it and it is something that Our Redeemer has already
taught. Our Redeemer has expressly indicated the fruit of all His
work of Redemption. And we cannot neglect this fruit, which is
like the continuation of Redemption itself. The Lord revealed this
fruit with the very words which revealed his heart-he revealed
his intentions when he announced that he had to come so that all
people might have life, that they might have life in abundance, always
in greater abundance. Ego veni ut vitam habeant et abundantius
habeant. ltis as if He were saying to all souls: 'Receive life, receive
an abundant life, and receive life ever in a more abundant way.'
This life is the Christian life, for this is what Christ Our Redeemer
has given to the world. This Christian life that you already possess
in such abundance must be developed so that it may reach an ever-
greater degree; you must fire it with the words of our Redeemer
when he says that such a life should be abundant and superabundant.
"Your beloved Saint, too, tells you: 'This is the way to live
a Christian life.' Just the way he himself lived it; just the way all
Saints lived it. By this We do not mean only the Saints who formed
part of the Lord's pageant this year, but all the Saints. What did
they do to attain sanctity? Only one thing: they lived a Christian
life abundantly, in an abundant measure; they lived that Christian
life out of which were born those magnificent and vast branches
of apostolic ministry and of good which conquer the hearts of all.

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"Our Redeemer said: 'Live a Christian life, live it abundantly.'
And Don Bosco tells us today: 'That's the way a Christian life
should be lived! And live it just as we have lived it and have taught
you how to live.' Yet We believe that for you, his own sons, Don
Bosco has something more to add, something which may explain
more specifically the meaning of what We are dealing with now.
We believe that he is now saying to you: 'Pay attention to what
kind of guidance you should heed.'
"We feel that he is telling you that in order to advance always
and in a better manner along the road that you should follow, you
should keep in mind three notions linked to Christian life; we feel
he is sharing with you a threefold secret.
"The first of these is to love Jesus Christ, to love Jesus Christ
as our Redeemer. We might say that such a love was one of the
thoughts, one ofthe feelings, which dominated Don Bosco's whole
life. He revealed it to us in his watchword: Da mihi animas! This
is a love which is continuously, uninterruptedly concerned with
what souls are, not as seen in themselves only, but as seen in the
thought, in the work, in the Blood and Death of our Redeemer. And
the love of the Redeemer becomes love of Redeemed souls, which
according to his way of thinking and evaluating, appears not to
have been bought at too high a price, if they are bought with His
Blood. This is exactly the love of the Redeemer which We have
been recalling and for which We were thankful all of this year of
bounteous Redemption.
"Your Father taught you another lesson. He taught you where
to find the staunchest support, the greatest assistance, on which you
may rely in order to put into practice that love for our Redeemer
which finds expression in your love for souls, in your apostolate
for souls. Among all other titles by which the Mother of God is
known, Don Bosco preferred the title of Mary Help of Christians.
Mary is the help of Christians; Mary is that help which he relied
upon to gather together his auxiliary troops to march on toward the
salvation of souls. Most beloved children, Mary Help of Christians
is your legacy, one which the whole world would envy, if it did not
have other means with which to appeal to her.
"With this thought We should detect yet another of those coinci-
dences which are called opportunities, but which are instead deli-
cate encounters, providential preparations, that Wisdom alone knows

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how to arrange. The universal Motherhood of Mary is one of the
most precious fruits ofthe Redemption. We would not have been able
to celebrate the anniversary of our Redemption without recalling
the last hours of the Redeemer on the Cross, without remembering
that it was from the Cross, when the pangs of Death were most
acute and terrible, that Our Savior gave to all of us His own Mother
as our Mother: 'Behold your son, Behold your Mother.' It is the
divine Redeemer Himself who has given us Mary as our universal
Mother, and in this we perceive the indissoluble link between Redemp-
tion and the Motherhood of Mary. One can say that Don Bosco
must have grasped in a special way this intimate link, and he must
have appreciated it for all its worth. That is why next to the Divine
Savior, he wanted to place Mary, and he entrusted to Mary, under
the title-which suits her the most-'Mary Help ofChristians,' all
the undertakings he was planning to carry out for the salvation of
souls. You, too, need to be shown this powerful help, on which you
will be able to rely, a help which is boundless in its effectiveness
because it stems from Mary, our Mother Who wants nothing more
than to give us her helping hand in all that we undertake for the
Glory of God and the good of souls.
"But your wise and loving Father, your leader, has thought
best to indicate to you yet another powerful, sure guide in the great
battles, in the most glorious war for the salvation of souls, in those
struggles which need to be extended to the whole world. Don Bosco
has pointed out that guide to be unlimited and sincere devotion to
the Church, to the Holy See, to the Vicar of Christ. This was a
wonderful program to follow which lasted for many years, as he
himself told Us in Our encounter, not only of the heart1 but also
an encounter of minds, under many aspects. This is a continuous
program, a program necessary for all aspects of life, the clearest
ones and the most radiant ones, those not made up so much of
words as of deeds-to the point that the Church, the Holy See, and
the Vicar of Christ filled his entire life. We know this because of
the personal knowledge We had of him, because he himself con-
firmed it with his own words, and he expressed thoughts which,
despite the great difference in our ages, he confided to Us with his
sincere fatherly friendship. Divine Providence disposed things in
1 They did not meet again, however, after the year 1883.

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such a way that those expressions which were able to make him
known personally would be handed over to the person whom Divine
Providence itself, in its secret designs, was going to designate to
have him exalted to the glory of the Altar (enthusiastic applause).
"We have made a reference to a 'Salesian Jubilee,' and we
have just heard with deep joy someone around us shouting 'Long
Live Don Bosco's Pope!' (Thunderous applause, very loud accla-
mations of 'Long Live Don Bosco's Pope!' at which the Pope
smiled and then gave a sign that he wished to continue). This is
quite enough, most beloved children; this is enough to indicate
that that beautiful word has been a word of joy for Us, as it is for
you who are such dear children. But that word, more than a word
of joy, is for you a word of warning. It simply tells us that Don
Bosco, Our and your beloved Don Bosco, is telling you that no
matter by which name he may be called, no matter the times in
which he lived, the Pope, in the eyes of Don Bosco, the Pope was
an essential part of his life, someone without whom he could not
have been the man he was.
"Here you have three things which have the utmost impor-
tance, three things which will come to procure for you the benefits
of the Holy Year which ends with this exaltation of St. John Bosco:
A love for Jesus Christ our Redeemer, which is a love for souls,
an apostolate for souls; a fervent and steadfast devotion to Mary
Help ofChristians, to whose protection he had entrusted the whole
organization ofhis undertakings; a devotion, an obedient andfaith-
ful attachment, to the Holy Church, to the Vicar of Jesus Christ,
the visible, living guide whom our Divine Redeemer wished to be
available so that souls would never doubt about His thoughts, about
the path to be taken to live in a Christian way, always in confor-
mity with the thoughts of His heart.
"It is with this fatherly note, with this paternal wish, that We
bless each and every one of you. We want to bless all those whom
you represent and you cannot but represent. For you represent all
that you left behind in the places whence you came; you represent
the whole great Salesian family and the family of Mary Help of
Christians; you represent all the Houses wherein these two fami-
lies labor, far more than they simply reside in. You represent all
the apostolic activities in all their forms; you represent the other
world, too: the army of Cooperators, and then another world of

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souls who have already found the way to Don Bosco, or who are
finding their way to him now: a spectacle as wide as the world
itself, a beautiful spectacle, just as are the love of God and the love
of souls, beautiful as the grace of Mary Help of Christians, a spec-
tacle which reaches as far as the eye can see, to the boundaries of
the visible world. Our blessing extends to that same remote bound-
ary, to the furthermost edge of the vision We now see before Us.
"You will take this blessing with you, wherever your thoughts
and your affections lead you. We wish to bless all that is most dear
to your thoughts, to your hearts, to all that you wish to see blessed.
It is needless to say that We refer not only to the spiritual families,
but also to the families which bear your particular names, to your
domestic families. We wish Our blessing to follow the direction of
your thoughts and to reach whatever you desire. Ifyou are thinking
of souls who are in need of the paternal blessing of Christ's Vicar
or who deserve one, We are happy to respond to all that you think
of and fulfill your wish. As our beloved Don Bosco did, We think
with particular tenderness and affection of the little ones, the chil-
dren so dear to our divine Redeemer, and for whom St. John Bosco
had such great fatherly concern, and We bless them because, first
of all, they are precious treasures who are, all too often, forsaken,
neglected, and deprived of loving care. We bless them, too, because
their whole lives lie ahead of them, and so, in them, We bless the
future with all the promises and hopes that it offers, and also We
wish this blessing to provide them with an antidote against all threats
and dangers. Nor do We want to forget those others who have already
reached the other end of life, your elders, the senior citizens, your
old folks, especially those among them who have labored on behalf
ofDon Bosco's undertakings, especially if they are ailing and sick,
and therefore have greater claims to your charitable solicitude and
the comfort of Our blessing.
"You will carry Our blessing with you, back to your various
regions, and We pray to God that it may accompany you always,
not only during the remainder of your visit to Rome, that it may
be beneficial to your souls not only on your imminent journey
home, but actually stay with you all your life."
The Pope then rose to his feet, and pronounced the formula for the
blessing, and with a tumultuous outburst ofapplause the congregation thanked

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him. When the Holy Father was about to mount the gestatorial chair, some-
one murmured to him that many people, on both sides of the Confession,
had heard all he had said, but had been unable to catch a glimpse of him.
So he gave orders that the chair was to be borne around the Confession to
satisfy the faithful who were crowding those sections of the church. As
he was carried out at a slow, stately pace, he turned to left and right with
gracious majesty, his right hand lifted in blessing, while the shouts of the
faithful continued unabated to acclaim him and people fluttered their hand-
kerchiefs and waved their hands. Moved by this filial demonstration, the
Pope bade the chair-bearers turn the gestatorial chair around when he reached
the far end of the aisle, and standing up, he embraced with a parting blessing
the whole congregation, which responded with a greater and final accla-
mation. One of those hours had ended, the memory of which would remain
indelibly impressed, more than in memory, but in the heart of all.
A TRIBUTE OF GRATITUDE TO THE POPE
In the wake of the Roman festivities, a public tribute of gratitude was
owed to the great Pontiff who had so honored the Father of the Salesian
Family. Besides, the meaning of this august event had to be expressed in
marble for history's sake. No monument could have been more suitable for
this purpose than the Salesian House of Via Tuscolana, which had already
been dedicated to the name of Pius XI. On April 4th, a solemn ceremony
was held there honoring the Pope in the unfinished church of Mary Help
of Christians, which, as we mentioned earlier, was then being built, and
a commemorative marble tablet was unveiled.
During the afternoon, four Cardinals, twenty Bishops, and many other
important guests who had received invitations from the Director, Father
Rotolo, on behalf of the Rector Major, gathered within the walls of the
unfinished church. The entertainment began with a choral hymn, Salve
Decus Italorum, a composition by Father Antolisei in honor of Don Bosco,
and with the Acclamations in honor of the Pope. Then came a polyphonic
chant by the same composer, to the words of Dante's verses to the Virgin
Mother. Following this impressive introduction, the marble tablet with its
Latin epigraph written by Professor Fornari was unveiled: the Argentinean
Ambassador to the Holy See acted as "godfather," while the sister of the
Holy Father and Countess Macchi di Cellere acted as the "godmothers."
The inscription read: On the first day ofApril, 1934, sacred for the Resur-
rection of Jesus Christ, Pius XI, Supreme Interpreter of divine counsels,

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inscribed in the calendar ofthe Saints, John Bosco, Father and Legislator
of the Pious Salesian Society and of the Daughters of Mary Help of
Christians, at the conclusion of the religious ceremonies celebrating the
centennial anniversary ofthe human Redemption, in the presence ofpeople
who had gathered from all regions of the world. As an everlasting remem-
brance of this festive event, the Salesian Congregation dedicated this
marble tablet to attest its joyous gratitude, in the temple built by the wish
ofthe Pontiffhimself, next to the Boys Hospice privileged to be named after
him.2
A young machine shop apprentice then greeted the guests with a
cordial welcome speech, ending by expressing the hope that in a none too
distant future this church might replace the papal chapel in which, prior
to 1870, the Pope had been wont to celebrate a traditional Mass on May
24th, the feast of Mary Help of Christians. The boldness of these words
was hailed by rousing applause, which broke out anew as soon as Father
Peter Ricaldone appeared on the platform. He was there mainly to express
the gratitude of all the Salesians to the Holy Father, Pius XI, and to all those
people who had cooperated with him in the exaltation of the new Saint.
This was the text of his speech:
"The inscription which has just been unveiled before our eyes, indel-
ibly etches on a marble slab the historic date of the Canonization of Our
Founder and Father, St. John Bosco, as well as recording the name of the
Pope, engraved with permanent characters, the Pope who exalted him to
the highest honors of the Altar. It expresses now and will express forever
the gratitude felt by the sons to the august Pope who glorified their Father.
"Historic indeed was that date of Don Bosco's canonization in terms
of what preceded it, what accompanied it and what followed it.
"It was preceded by an intense and worldwide expectation, an expec-
tation seasoned with admiration, gratitude and affection. The figure of Don
Bosco, so lovable while alive, still retains its vitality today, as those who
have known him personally think of him again. That figure also easily
comes to the minds of those who never knew him; it comes with a halo
of serene goodness, both intelligent and beneficent, and no one can resist
its attractiveness. The fruits of his providential undertakings are such as
2 Kal. Apr. MCMXXXIV - quo die - Jesu Christo resurgenti sacro - Pius XI - summus Divinae Mentis
interpres - humanae Redemptionis - saecularia conclusurus mysteria - gentibus ex orbe universo conjluentibus -
Joannem Bosco - Salesianae Piae Societatis - et Filiarum a Maria Auxiliatrice - Patrem legiferum - Sanctorum
Ordinibus adserebat - ad perennandam tanti eventus memoriam - hoc in templo - ipsius Pontificis voluntate
excitato - prope ephebeum eius nomine decorum - Salesianorum familia - grati ac gestientis animi documentum
-D.D.

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to lead people of all walks of life to bless his multiform charity, which
sowed everywhere precious seeds ofgoodness for the benefit of society and
for the benefit of young souls in particular. In view of the gigantic tree,
which grew in so short a time from the small seed mentioned in the Gospel,
scholars versed in social phenomena, historians and hagiographers, all hail
Don Bosco as a foreseeing forerunner who, in sifting the vetera [old] and
nova [new], discarded certain forms of action and apostolate, restored
others which had fallen into disuse, and created some which were entirely
new. This is why the various phases of his Cause, which was as complex
as his whole life had been, were followed eagerly by thousands of people
with the utmost interest. How many were the prayers said and the petitions
raised so that the Vicar of Christ would proclaim with his infallible voice,
from the exalted throne of truth, the words that would express the inner
conviction shared by innumerable ecclesiastics and laymen, wherever the
Roman Church had extended its reach, that Don Bosco was a Saint.
"When the glorious hour of this proclamation struck, external and
unexpected circumstances helped make that august day even more memo-
rable than it would otherwise have been. An extraordinary, magnificent
Jubilee was drawing to a close on the solemn feast of Easter, and for the
entire year the world had responded, with unprecedented enthusiasm, to
the invitation of the Pope. His Holiness, Pius XI himself, wished to empha-
size the end of the Jubilee with some outstanding event or rite which, with
the unanimous concurrence of the Catholic world, would enhance in a
fitting manner the traditional ceremony. Divine Providence, which guides
numerous events with its invisible hand, disposed events in such a way that
the Church, the mother of all Saints, would glorify before the entire world
the sanctity of one of her sons, to whom all the peoples of the earth rendered
an affectionate tribute of love and veneration. It is an undeniable fact that
the enhancement of Don Bosco in this extraordinary moment in History
was hailed by every nation quae sub coelo est [under heaven] almost as
if each of them saw in him a noble son of its own blood. In this way, a year
of countless filial pilgrimages of the faithful to the Eternal City came to
a brilliant end on that day which attracts to Rome more visitors from all
parts of the world than any other throughout the year.
"The participation by sovereigns and kings, supported by national and
civil consent, added much splendor to the religious and Catholic exaltation.
With the gracious spirit which has always distinguished the Royal Family,
His Majesty the King wished to participate in the solemn ceremony in Saint
Peter's, and sent His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince Humbert of Savoy,

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to represent him at the Canonization service. With truly regal gentleness,
the Prince expressed to Don Bosco' s humble sons, both on the eve and at
the end of the Canonization, appreciative words which will remain indel-
ibly imprinted on their hearts. It is true that Don Bosco belongs to the entire
world, but Italy had the great good fortune to be the land of his birth. Had
not the Holy Father referred to him as 'The glory of Italy,' and as the
'glorious son of his native country'?
"The Head of the government, the Man of Divine Providence who
directs the destiny of Italy, the vigilant guardian of all that may enhance
the honor and power of the nation, is the one who saw in Don Bosco the
worthy and glorious representative of our race. Not only did he authorize
an enthusiastic, solemn, authoritative and warm tribute to honor this great
Italian on the heights of the Capitol Hill, but, by his personal attendance,
he bettered the immense importance and significance of the ceremony,
which, since the Roman sun first shed its light on that famous mount, was
the first of its kind, ever to be staged there.
"We who knew Don Bosco in person, we know that this harmonious
alliance between religious and patriotic sentiments was always uppermost
in his thoughts, and we know that he would have rejoiced, had he had our
good fortune in his day and age, to witness the radiant dawn of February
11, 1929, over his beloved country, and to know that by the signing of the
Lateran Pact 'Italy was given back to God, and God was given back to
Italy.' These memorable words sum up the thoughts of the great Pontiff
with whose name Don Bosco' s Canonization will be linked indissolubly
forever.
"The Pope who knew the Saint personally, who thoroughly probed and
fully understood his spirit, has repeatedly quoted and singled out this fact
as a providential feature of this important celebration. He even wrote about
it, in a solemn document addressed to the whole Catholic Church a few
months after the rainbow of religious peace radiantly appeared in the skies
ofltaly and perhaps never so splendidly since the times of Constantine (313
A.D.). I am referring to the Encyclical Quinquagesimo ante anno in which,
after enumerating all the consolations God had bestowed on him during
his priestly Golden Jubilee, he declared that by a special grace of Divine
Providence, John Bosco was the first for whom he had decreed the honors
of his Beatification, after the signing of the long awaited peace treaty with
the Kingdom of Italy. And it was Don Bosco who on so many occasions
had attempted to negotiate amicably the settlement of the very painful
conflict which had wrested Italy away from the Pope's paternal embrace.

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"We are indebted to Pius XI for the canonization of Don Bosco. We
are indebted to him for the extraordinary recognition, which raises this
Canonization to the dignity of being a symbol of an outstanding historic
event. We are indebted to him because he has repeatedly delineated the
exceptional personality of the Saint with an unfaltering hand. Prior to his
Easter homily, the Pope publicly had sung the praises of the Servant of God
on twenty-five occasions, describing his virtues and his words, and extol-
ling his providential Mission.
"The sentiments of the Pope found radiant expression particularly in
yesterday's audience. It truly was a memorable audience! It was memo-
rable because of its setting: 'We arranged the largest and loveliest reception
hall in the whole world for you,' the Pope said, and certainly Saint Peter's
offered on that occasion an appearance, the likes of which have no parallel
in history. It was memorable for the people who took part in it. Never before
had so many young people, come from a thousand parts ofthe world, thronged
around the stately papal monuments with such vibrant enthusiasm: 'A whirl-
wind ofjoy' were the words used by the Pope to describe the frenzied accla-
mations of cheers which welcomed his appearance at the entrance to the
Basilica and which accompanied him up to the altar of the Confession, in
front of which the throne was placed. Memorable because of the allocution
given by the Pope, an allocution which was amiable, paternal, rich in refer-
ences and personal recollections of warm exhortations, and ending with
what I would call the Identity Card for all the sons of Don Bosco, great
and small alike: 'To love Jesus our Redeemer, whenever charity is being
shown for the salvation of souls; devotion to Mary Help of Christians; Fidel-
ity to the Vicar of Christ.' The acclamation directed to 'Don Bosco's Pope'
was noted by the Holy Father in Saint Peter's and was cordially appre-
ciated, as it expressed the secret source of that enthusiasm which filled the
hearts of everyone who was present, and inspired the beautiful and unfor-
gettable words uttered by Pius XI.
"The Pope's words and actions have had the following consequences:
whereas before, Don Bosco' s figure appeared great to our eyes, now, that
figure appears gigantic beyond compare; the knowledge that the world had
of him is now expanded and deepened. The solemn Te Deum, blended with
the Easter Hallelujah in the greatest temple of Christianity, was a solemn
thanksgiving to God for having given His Church one of those Saints who
shed even greater radiance on her holiness, and of this holiness they
themselves are powerful tools and ministers.

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"Aware of how deeply obliged all of us are to the Holy Father, Pius
XI, we are assembled here today with the intention of expressing to him
our gratitude. The walls of the building which is now being built next to
this church, and which we are dedicating to his august name, already
express loudly enough the gratitude of the Salesians to this incomparable
Pontiff. In the technical-professional school of Pius XI, generations of boys
will follow uninterruptedly, to learn how to grow well-skilled in their work
and in the practice of Salesian life, and interwoven with the praise of the
Father of Youth, they will hear recalled in Benediction the name of Pius
XI, whom we pray that God preserve for many a long year for the benefit
of the Church and of all Mankind. That beneficial school and the majestic
church, soon to be completed, which now welcomes us, will be in Rome
a center, a beacon spreading the light of the devotion to Don Bosco' s
Madonna, Mary Help of Christians, for they will be animated by a vibrant
heartbeat for the Saint of charity and for the Pope of that Saint.
"Now, however, I have come to a point where I wish I possessed the
warmth of Don Bosco' s own heart at least for a few moments, in order to
render to the Vicar of Jesus Christ the most worthy expressions of thanks.
But even though I do not possess Don Bosco' s heart, I am at least fortunate
enough to be in a position to make, so to speak, his voice my own. In 1876,
the General Guardian of the Arcadian Academy asked the Servant of God
to read a paper on the Passion of Our Lord at a meeting of the Academy
which was held traditionally every year on Good Friday. Don Bosco
accepted the invitation; Don Bosco's compliance was hailed by all as a
most welcome favor. The meeting was held in the Altemps Palace. The
speaker did not ramble through the flowery fields of literature, but read a
series of learned and pious reflections on the 'Seven Words' uttered by
Jesus on the Cross. At the end, he turned with great naturalness to the
subject of the bond which should exist between the true believer and Peter
and his successors. He invited his listeners to 'rally united around the
worthy successor of the Holy Apostle, around the mighty, courageous Vicar
of Jesus Christ, the great, incomparable Pius IX' (these adjectives are his).·
He continued with an exhortation and a protest, which I shall now quote
literally, with the intention of expressing it with filial devotion on behalf
of all the Salesians, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, their pupils,
the Cooperators, the friends, and disciples of Saint John Bosco everywhere,
from Pope Pius IX to Pope Pius XI.
" 'Let us tum to him in every doubt, in every danger, for he is our
anchor of salvation, our infallible oracle. Let no one ever forget that this

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mighty Pontiff is the foundation, the center of all truth for the salvation of
the world. Anyone who gathers with him builds all the way up to heaven,
anyone who does not build with him, scatters, qui mecum non colligit,
dispergit.' If my words could only reach the ears of this angelic Comforter
at this moment, I would like to say: Most Blessed Father, listen to and
graciously accept the words of a poor, yet most affectionate son of yours.
We want to be sure of the road, which leads to the possession of true
happiness; therefore we all gather around you who are our loving father,
our infallible Master. Your words are a guide to our steps and a norm for
our actions. Your thoughts, your writings, will be received with the greatest
veneration, and with lively solicitude will they be spread among our fami-
lies, among our relatives, and, if it be possible, throughout the world. Your
joys will also be the joys of your sons, your sufferings and thorns will
likewise be the sufferings and thorns shared by your sons. Just as it is a
glory for a soldier who dies on the field of battle for his king, so it would
be the best day of our life, that day on which we could give property and
life for you, 0 Most Blessed Father. By dying for you we have an assured
guarantee that we are dying for that God who crowns the temporary
sufferings of this earth with the eternal joys of Heaven."
The applause which greeted Fr. Peter Ricaldone' s filial words was
quickly renewed by the boys as a salute to the Cardinals, Prelates, and
Authorities who were leaving the church to take a look at the school and
inspect its magnificent workshops. The festivities could not have ended on
a more desirable note.
THE TRIDUUM IN HONOR OF ST. JOHN BOSCO,
AND VARIOUS TRIBUTES PAID TO THE POPE
While the demonstrations were taking place, one after the other, at the
Capitol Hill, at Saint Peter's Basilica and at the "Pius XI School," the first
triduum ever held in honor of the new Saint was conducted with the greatest
possible solemnity in the Sacred Heart Basilica in Rome. Eminent Cardi-
nals celebrated and pontificated during the three days. Salesian Father
Antolisei gave further proofs of his talent as a composer and conductor.
On the first day of the triduum, he had the choirs sing his Mass in honor
of St. John Bosco for six voices and two choirs, and on the following days
Palestrina's Missa brevis. The Secretary of the Propagation of the Faith,
Archbishop Salotti, preached the sermon on Monday evening. On Tuesday,
it was the tum of His Eminence, Cardinal Hlond, who, although he was

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a Pole, spoke Italian with ease. On Wednesday, the sermon was delivered
by His Eminence, Cardinal Laurenti, who, as Prefect of the Congregation
of Rites, was thoroughly familiar with the Cause of Don Bosco, and with
the character of the Servant of God as well. People crowded into the
playgrounds and under the porticos, managing to enjoy the functions and
to listen to the sermons over the loudspeaker system. At night, a vast crowd
of pilgrims and tourists lingered on until late. They were entertained by the
illuminations and by the music played by the "Pius XI" School Band. This
external display would have responded very poorly to Don Bosco' s spirit,
if it had not been accompanied by something more intimate and substantial.
What contributed most to honor Don Bosco was the fact that crowds of
people went to confession from early morning until evening, and there was
a steady procession of communicants at the altar rails.
One duty still had to be fulfilled: To manifest personally to the Vicar
of Christ the gratitude of the whole Salesian Family. The Rector Major,
together with the other Superiors, responded to this sacred obligation on
April 17th, when they knelt before His Holiness and humbly offered him
the gifts traditionally presented on such occasions,
They gave him four gifts in all. The first was a painting, a reproduction
by Crida of Rollini' s portrait, found in Don Bosco' s rooms at the Oratory.
It is the most faithful likeness ever painted of Don Bosco, and depicted him
exactly as we remember him in the last few years of his life.
The second gift was the Life ofSt. John Bosco by Bishop Salotti. This
had been bound by Guy Colombini, head of the bookbinding department
of the Professional School of the Oratory, and was an artistic jewel. It is
a tradition that any book presented to the Pope had to be bound in white
leather. Naturally, this leaves but little room for the artist's creative imagi-
nation, for it restricts ornamentation to simple gold tooling. But somehow
Colombini managed to produce a genuine work of art, without deviating
from tradition.
Three strips of golden leather edged the white leather cover on the
right, left and lower edges. The two lateral strips were tooled with equally
spaced horizontal gold lines, and the words ST. JOHN BOSCO had been
stamped by hand on the strip at the bottom. The work had been done with
small, straight, carefully arranged tools, so that the outcome was letters
quadrangular in shape, thin, sharply defined, and well-spaced, one from
another. The upper part of the border was clear. The papal coat-of-arms was
impressed on the white surface. The spine was decorated with lines iden-
tical to those on the two faces of the cover, and the name of the author

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was impressed at the top, the title of the book at the bottom. The inner part
of the front cover of the book was even more striking: the center of the
page was dominated by the figure of Pius XI in profile, reproduced as a
medallion and with the following inscription in gold impressed on it.
TO HIS HOLINESS PIUS XI
POPE OF THE CANONIZATION OF
ST. JOHN BOSCO
The Salesian Family
April 1, 1934
EASTER SUNDAY
A thin gold line rimmed the edge of the rectangular white morocco leather
cover, both back and front. This too had been done with small seal press,
yet this was nothing compared to the polychromatic coat-of-arms and
medallion which, at first glance, could easily be mistaken for miniatures;
instead, they were mosaics. They were the consequence of small pieces of
leather, so perfectly blended that they resembled inlay-work. The gilding
of the portrait had been used only for the stole in the portrait, enriched with
a dense dotted design, which made it look like filigree.
The third gift was a reliquary containing the Saint's fifth cervical
vertebra. The Blessed Angelicus School in Milan had embossed it after a
design by the Salesian Valotti, and it was encrusted with gold, silver and
precious stones. It stood seventy-five centimeters high, in the form of a
cross mounted on a handsome base, and topped by an almond-shaped halo
with rays. The tiny case containing the relic was made of gold, studded with
tiny diamonds, and was set in the middle of the cross: the four cardinal
virtues were represented with their symbols at the foot of the cross. Faith
and Hope were depicted kneeling on the two arms; at the top there was the
Saint, represented in the act of giving Communion to two little boys. The
statuettes of the virtues and of Don Bosco were so exquisitely modeled that
they were genuine masterpieces in themselves.
The last gift was some samples of the large commemorative medal of
the canonization, cast in gold and silver.
The Pope granted an audience to the Salesian Superiors in the small
throne hall. He looked with admiration at the reliquary; it was at this time
that the Pope, thinking about the quality of the relic, remarked to Father
Peter Ricaldone: "Ah! Don Bosco is the one who had very strong vertebrae;
his whole spine was strong, and very different from that of many other
people!!!" Before he gave his blessing to the superiors, he was delighted

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to let them know how happy he was over the wonderful celebrations in
Rome, and with the reports of the solemn festivities in Turin, of which he
had read in the Osservatore.
It was only proper that there should be some remembrance ofDon Bosco' s
Easter to commemorate him in the shrine where he had been thus exalted,
and such a souvenir was found in a way befitting the dignity of the Basilica.
It took the form of an immense candleholder for the Easter Candle, and
was never to be removed from its place beside the altar of the Confession.
It stood three meters fifteen centimeters high, and had a red granite base,
a shaft consisting of one single piece of African marble, one meter ninety
centimeters long. The capital was of gilded bronze, embossed with the coat-
of- arms of Pius XI and of Saint Peter's Basilica. This magnificent work
of art will proclaim before the world the gratitude of the Salesians to the
Vatican Chapter, for the great assistance given to assure the wonderful suc-
cess of the unforgettable celebration. A short Latin inscription mentions the
name of the donor, the date of the presentation, and the reason for the gift.
Another special initiative should not go unmentioned. The six Salesian
Bulletins, all printed at the Oratory, vied with one another to provide for
the readers the most detailed accounts of the festivities, enriching the text
of these accounts with a variety of illustrations. When everything was over,
all these editions, printed in Italian, French, Spanish, English, Portuguese,
and Lithuanian, were reprinted on glossy paper, and bound in one dense,
handsome volume, consisting of two parts. This was given first to the Holy
Father, and then to many outstanding individuals of the ecclesiastical world
and of the Laity. A more detailed, lively and interesting documentation of
these solemn events could never have been contrived, to be treasured as
a living record by prominent families and religious communities.

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Q.tqapter 15
Echoes of the Canonization
in the Pronouncements of the Pope
The Holy Father, Pius XI, confided to Cardinal Segura, the former
Archbishop of Toledo, how he. as a young priest, had met Don Bosco in
1883, at the Oratory. He lingered on a well-known circumstance: The
Directors of various schools were approaching the Servant of God to report
to him about their particular matters. This was happening exactly where
he was talking to Don Bosco. And so he hinted twice that out of a sensitive
feeling he wanted to withdraw from the room. But both times the Saint had
bidden him remain, and added: "This will be helpful to both you and me."
It was obvious that those talks were helpful to Don Bosco, but the young
priest could not understand in what way they might be helpful to him. When
Cardinal Ratti was elected Pope thirty-nine years later, he recalled Don
Bosco immediately after the Conclave, and almost felt that he saw him
standing at his side, repeating to him: "This will be helpful for me, too."
As he declared later, it had been that very day that Pius XI had made up
his mind to promote Don Bosco' s canonization. 1
Certainly Pius XI did give a vigorous impetus to Don Bosco's Cause,
and he availed himself of many opportunities after the Beatification, just
as after the Canonization, to say how happy he was for the final result. In
this chapter it is our intention to assemble the Pope's more important
statements during the year 1934 in reference to this matter.
The distribution of medals with the likeness of the Saint continued
throughout the year. At times, the Pope merely mentioned that he wished
to distribute a souvenir medal at the end of all audiences; we shall bypass
such occasions. But at other times he praised Don Bosco's character,
virtues, and works, although he did not always accompany the words with
the gift of a medal.
1 Cardinal Segura reported this to Father Orione who, in turn, reported it to the Salesian Father Zachary
Genghini in America, on December 30, 1935. On August 3, 1938, Pius XI spoke once again of Don Bosco, to Msgr.
Vmcent Cimatti during a private audience, and repeated things he had already mentioned about the vocation to
which Don Bosco had felt himself attracted, namely, that of being a writer and a historian, adding that he had
relinquished this ambition because he believed he was insufficiently prepared for it. The Pope said that, at that time,
he had answered: "I feel that Don Bosco is more than adequately prepared for this kind of work. I know a book,
which shows that Don Bosco had a solid intellectual preparation for this and other kinds of works." "What type of
book is this?" the Saint asked. "Your History ofItaly," the Pope said, adding that Don Bosco, in his modesty, had
deftly changed the subject. The Pope then concluded his story by saying: "Poor Don Bosco! How well he had
foreseen my future!"

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On April 5th, he gave a lengthy speech in German to 350 young men,
all members of two German Associations. He mentioned Don Bosco twice
during the speech. The first time he did so was in reference to the recent
Easter ceremonies. "The solemn celebrations at the close of the Holy Year,
our wonderful Roman Easter and the Canonization of Blessed Don Bosco
were rendered all the lovelier and more pleasing to us by the arrival of you,
our beloved sons. Divine Providence disposed that your honorable dele-
gation should be here, to share with your common Father these memorable
hours as representatives of the German Catholic Youth." The second time
the Pope referred to Don Bosco at the end of the speech, while he was
personally handing the souvenir medals to the leader of the group. He
spoke of the current tragic plight of German Catholics and added: "These
medals which bear the likeness of St. John Bosco, a glorious name, a
glorious Saint, will remind you of your visit to Rome and of the greatness
of this Saint, who was a genuine martyr to his own loving charity, which
is the charity of the Holy Church; this man was spared no adversity, no
obstacles of all kinds, and yet he remained always confident and calm, as
We personally witnessed it. This was because he knew and always pro-
claimed that he was working for God, and he knew that God was always
with him.2
On the 7th of the month the Pope granted an audience to a large group
of Belgian pilgrims. When he noticed a contingent of Boy Scouts among
them, the Pope in his general address to the whole group directed particular
words to them: "During the recent Easter ceremonies, We exalted a great
Saint, St. John Bosco, to the highest honors of the Altars; he was a genuine
friend of Youth, and an extraordinary Scout of God who blazed trails that
were often beset with great obstacles which he had to overcome, so that
he might save souls."
At the same time the Pope granted audiences to three international
pilgrim groups, and each time he mentioned Don Bosco's name. The first
group was formed by university students, all members of the so-called Pax
Romana Association. This is an international association of university
students who are also members of Catholic Action. Their specific purpose
is to promote the cause of peace in their native countries, and to lessen the
hostilities which exist between nation and nation, the sad bequest of the
great World War. He spoke to them in Latin, reminding them "they had
come to Rome on the occasion of the supreme glorification of St. John
2 L'Osservatore Romano, April 6, 1934.

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
Bosco, a great Saint whose apostolic zeal can not be adequately described
in mere words, and who had dedicated so much of his life to students and
young scholars." The second pilgrimage included a vast contingent of
French Boy Scouts and young explorers, and with an additional group of
Boy explorers from Belgium, Luxemburg, Holland and Switzerland. The
Pope addressed them in French: "The date for your pilgrimage to Rome
was well chosen since it coincided with the glorification of St. John Bosco,
who was a great Scout as he explored all the paths leading to virtue, and
as he overcame every test and obstacle. Dear sons and daughters, is he not
a wonderful model for you, a model of Christian life, lived not only
integrally but courageously?" A little later the Pope made this recom-
mendation: "You who are full of life and of physical vitality, you who love
life, should also develop your spiritual life. You should say in this regard:
Never enough, but always more and always better! This is exactly the
lesson taught by Don Bosco, the great Scout who blazed every trail leading
to virtue." Then the Pope concluded his address: "We are happy to offer
you a small souvenir of your pilgrimage, a medal of St. John Bosco. We
give it to you Ourselves, and want all of you to consider it as a gift from
the Father of your souls." As he said this, he handed a large package of
medals to the leader of the group. Delegates from thirty different countries,
representing sixty Associations of Catholic Women, all of them attending
the 9th International convention of their union, made up the third pil-
grimage. While teaching them how with the practice of charity they should
care for the body and through it reach out to the soul, the Pope quoted the
example of Don Bosco: "Herein lies the secret of the great geniuses of
charity, from St. Vincent de Paul to St. Joseph Benedict Cottolengo and
St. John Bosco." 3
He also made a general reference to the new Saint when he spoke to
some Spanish pilgrims that same month. The following month, he men-
tioned him more specifically, during an audience granted to some Polish
immigrants: "We are happy to give you a small medal, with a special
recommendation added to it, not only because it is given to you by your
common Father, but because it bears the likeness of St. John Bosco, the
same Don Bosco who is entitled to the special gratitude of Poland for the
great good that his sons have done in your country." A similar remark was
made in July to two hundred Viennese youngsters, for whom Mussolini had
arranged a month of pleasant vacation at the Roman beaches. As he gave
3 L'Osservatore Romano, April 7/8, 1934.

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out the medals he said: "This medal bears the likeness of a great friend
of youth, hence of a great friend of Austrian youth, too. I speak of St. John
Bosco. The sons of this powerful friend of Youth, of this great Saint, have
achieved great things in their work in Vienna and other parts of Austria
where their schools are flourishing. That is why We recommend you,
beloved children, to the special protection of this great Servant of God."
As a Nuncio, Pius XI had had ample opportunity to study the work of the
Salesians in Poland and Austria.4
An important reference to Don Bosco was made to some French pilgrims
on behalf of the Pope. The story of how this occurred is an interesting one.
While these pilgrims were traveling to Rome on two trains organized by
the Salesians, a few devout persons had made up a collection to be given
as an offering to the Pope; it amounted to sixteen thousand francs. It cer-
tainly would have been a great consolation ifthey could have humbly placed
that amount of money at the feet of the Pope at an audience. But this was
not possible. The Pope gratefully accepted the gift and instructed the Secre-
tary of State to thank them on his behalf. On April 12th, Cardinal Pacelli
wrote as follows to Bishop Flaus, the French Prelate: "I am happy to con-
vey to you the personal thanks of His Holiness for the generous offering
of the French Salesian pilgrims who visited Rome to attend the canoni-
zation of the Holy Founder. His Holiness is very grateful for their tribute,
and is happy to believe that this glorification of St. John Bosco will inspire
ever-greater zeal in his sons for the religious education of Youth. He also
hopes that they will succeed in multiplying the number ofpredestined youths,
like Dominic Savio, in all countries of the world." 5 Five days prior to this
event, the Pope had welcomed a group of two thousand youngsters from
all parts of France and reminded them that they had come to Rome "at a
most solemn moment, namely at the splendor ofEaster, of the Roman Easter,
at the conclusion of the Holy Year, to witness the splendor of sanctity, in
splendoribus Sanctorum, crowned by the exaltation of St. John Bosco."6
During the course of the year, the Pope often received groups or leaders
of the Catholic Associations and nearly always gave them the souvenir
medal, at times accompanying the gift with a comment, though sometimes
not. Early in May, while he was distributing the medals to five hundred
nuns who were in Rome attending a course of instruction on Catholic
Action, he called Don Bosco "a true apostle, a model of Christian life, and
4 L'Osservatore Romano, May 24th, and July 30/31, 1934.
5 Bulletin Salesien, June, 1934.
6 L'Osservatore Romano, April 9-10, 1934.

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of Catholic Action." In July, the Pope granted an audience to three other
groups like this. To the second group, which was made up of leaders of
Young Italian Women, he deplored the propaganda made by Protestants in
Italy, and called on the "precious cooperation" of women to help fight it,
suggesting first of all the use of "trusting prayer" because he added, just
as "that great Saint, Don Bosco, always said, 'God is bound to help us,
especially when the issue at stake concerns Him, and not ourselves.'" The
third audience was granted to young men, members of the Catholic Action
Association who were attending a National Study Week in Rome. The Pope
explained to them why he was giving them a traditional souvenir medal:
"This is not solely because this great Saint followed the traditions of
Catholic Action which can be traced back to the days of the Apostles and
cooperated generously with the hierarchical apostolate of the Church, but
also on account of the memory We have of Our own deep affectionate and
personal knowledge of him and of Our rapport with him."7
Schools, boarding schools, Institutes, Seminaries, and university students
heard the Pope magnify our Saint. Of these audiences we shall recall only
those in which, besides handing out medals, the Pope also added some
interesting remarks. Foremost among such occasions was an audience granted
on May 31, 1934, to the pupils of the Salesian school "Pius XI." The Pope
delivered a splendid address. This is what he said:
"We really do not know how We should start in order to thank you for
so many beautiful and most heartening things given to Us. But We do feel
obliged, We feel the pressing need, to express Our gratitude for them.
Everything you have brought to Us has been most beautiful: your filial,
festive welcome, your singing of hymns, the wondrously sweet words of
Dante's Ave Maria which We heard a long, long time ago, although the
words have remained ever present in Our mind and heart! As We look with
admiration at your gifts, the product of your technical ability, We can really
say that We are in your house, as We were then, just as you are now in Our
house, in the house of the Father. We look at these handsome volumes into
which you have wanted to record all of Our words about our dear Saint
John Bosco, from the first words up to the last, the most recent ones. All
of these were crowned by a dear, incomparable and holy rendition, so warm
with affection, just as the one presented by your classmate to express the
filial feelings which fill all of you. Yet nothing could have been more
agreeable, comforting, or warming to Us than your presence here, than
7 L'Osservatore Romano, July 21, 23-24, 30-31, 1934.

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your loving, filial visit. This is the loveliest gift you could have given to
Us; this is your gift, your Strenna to Us for Our birthday.
"This date is not without significance for Us, of course; it is a reminder
of the sound of the years rolling by; it is a reminder of all the gifts showered
upon Us by Divine Goodness; it is a paternal warning that the day when
We must go home, as the peasants in the Po River Valley say, is fast
approaching. You have chosen these two moments which are so beautiful
for us, the end of May and Our birthday, to come here with your good
wishes, to express to Us your gratitude, the gratitude of the whole huge,
worldwide family of Don Bosco the Saint. You do well to call him Don
Bosco the Saint, because the world will never be able to refer to him as
Saint John Bosco, but only and always and quite simply, as Don Bosco,
Don Bosco the Saint. The gratitude that you express is great, and it is
genuinely spectacular, because the family which you represent here, and
whose sentiments you convey to Us, is likewise great.
"All this should tell you with what feelings We have seen you pass by,
like a review however rapid, and how glad We were to approach each one
of you, to make a personal acquaintance of each one of you, just like Don
Bosco came marvelously to know each one of his children.
"We congratulate you for your fine sentiments, because the whole
world recognizes that they are the way they should be. Such was the favor
with which God has distinguished the sons of Don Bosco and all those who
benefit from his work, which truly has come down from Heaven to Earth,
to show what miracles are.
"We feel that in expressing Our gratitude, We should be in the foremost
ranks, because it was Our privilege to know Don Bosco intimately when
he, too, was a wayfarer in this world, and to proclaim him a Saint later,
not only with Our lips, but also with Our innermost heart, as We added this
name to those of other heavenly patrons. We humbly acknowledge this to
be Our privilege, and render special thanks to God because of it.
"This will tell you all how and how much we feel in tune with all of
you, with the sons of Don Bosco, with all his family in every part of the
world, wherever his work is displayed and still goes on, like the work of
our Apostle, of that courageous soldier of Jesus Christ, of that incompa-
rable friend of Youth, of that Savior of so many souls: Da mihi animas.
"We give thanks to God and to His divine Mother Who was, indeed,
the Help of Don Bosco, the Saint, the divine Mother Who has entered with
such a large contribution into all that has been accomplished, from the first
days of Don Bosco, Saint. Look! As a matter of fact it was because of the

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maternal help provided by Our Lady that Don Bosco has so well expressed
his gratitude to her by building a new Church in her honor next to Us.
"Beloved sons, We give thanks to the Lord, and look with wonder at
His works. It is unto Him that We must render honor and glory, that same
honor and glory which the Church renders to Him unceasingly. But We
should also make up our minds to imitate the things We celebrate and honor
so joyously; this is what all of Us should do, and especially you. It might
seem arduous at first, to try to imitate Don Bosco, whose figure seems so
complex, so immense, and so gigantic when we face it, yet of all the kinds
of sanctity, Don Bosco's sanctity is the easiest to be imitated. Any form
ofholiness can be imitated; we can even imitate the holiness of God, because
'imitation' in other fields also, such as the field of Art for example, does
not mean 'to copy' or to 'reproduce exactly'; no, not at all. To imitate a
thing means that we enter into a certain order of ideas, into a certain spiri-
tual attitude; it means to make some effort to ascend in a certain direction.
That's what Art does when it imitates Nature, and Dante describes Our art
as "a Dio quasi nipote" [almost the grandchild of God], inasmuch as it
is born of Nature, God's daughter.
"What We should especially try to imitate in Don Bosco's life is his
heroic fidelity to duty at all times, just as it was required by the daily round
of events. He was always ready to give his attention to the latest comer,
to the latest appeal made to him. He was ready to devote his attention to
everything, to everyone, as though every single thing, and every individual
person was the only thing, the only person, he had to deal with. Now, to
respond with due promptness to our duties, no matter what they are, is not
only possible, it is an obligation. Therefore, doing your duty: that is the
foundation of all kinds of sanctity.
"Beloved children, there is something else you should learn from the
example given you by your Saint and Founder. You have a very special
reason to remember the motto of your and Our beloved Don Bosco: Da
mihi animas. Whenever he was saying this prayer, he was praying for you,
and God has graciously heard his prayer, and He has given him your souls,
so that he might do some good to them, according to God's spirit.
"With this, Don Bosco taught you and placed before your eyes an idea,
a great idea, a great work. This idea is related to the precious value of souls
to be saved; this idea is related to the imperative necessity of defending
the benefits received through a Christian education, not merely in the
ordinary sense of the word, but in a genuine, generous, exquisitely Chris-
tian sense which will be of inestimable benefit to you, to your family, to

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Society, and to the Church. You will be outstanding sons and later, parents.
You will be outstanding citizens of Society and outstanding sons of the
Church, always ready to carry out your duties honorably, be they towards
yourselves, towards God, towards your country, towards your fellowmen.
You will be genuine Christians, and when We say that, We have said
everything. In a word, you will consider Duty as an obligation which God's
word has entrusted to you, and you will know that you must perform your
duty before God and men. Another duty connected with grasping the value
of souls is that of remembering so many other young souls who lack the
spiritual treasures of the education which have been so richly given to you.
This is the reason why you have a duty to do your utmost to share with
others the immense gifts you have received, with your prayers, with your
example, and with your missionary work so characteristic of the Salesian
spirit.
"There is yet another reflection. Whence did Don Bosco draw his love
for souls? It is clear. He loved them so deeply because he loved Jesus Christ.
He knew that Jesus Christ would have shed His Blood even for just one
of these souls. This secret is shared by all the Saints. They thought about
what Jesus Christ had done, the fact that He did not consider too great a
ransom to pay, this shedding of all His Most Precious Blood for the
salvation of souls, even for the salvation of a single soul. Pro animabus
is the word of God, and the Apostle remembers it and adds the stirring
thought: dilexit me et tradidit semetipsum pro me [He loved me and handed
Himself over for me].
"Beloved children, this is what Don Bosco often repeated to himself
during his spiritual meditations, and during his full and most active life.
This is what needs to be done by us. We should give thanks, and especially,
we should imitate. This is what We know that you always wish to do, and
it is for this reason that in the blessings We are now about to impart to all
of you who are here and to all those whom you represent, We want to put
into them also a note of gratitude. We see, as in a magnificent vision, in
a very pleasing vision which your presence creates for our spirit, the entire
family of Don Bosco, as wide as the world. And with this vision before
Our eyes We wish that Our blessing may reach the farthest horizon. In
particular do We bless all the people whom you represent: your families,
your homes, your relatives, all that you consider dear in them. We bless
particularly the work in which you are engaged in this journey, the work
which holds primary importance; We mean the preparation for your future
and for all that will be the fruit of your Christian education. When you will

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be able to produce that fruit which is the apostolate of example, of a life
lived in a Christian manner, then you will exemplify, not with words but
with the deeds, how one gets to be a good Christian and a good citizen.
That fruit will be the apostolate of your life, the apostolate of the salutary
word, of that informal word which does not bear an aspect of teaching, but
a word so friendly as to go directly to the heart. And then the other fruit
will be the apostolate of prayer, an apostolate much easier and more
powerful, a prayer for the coming of God's kingdom."
It was also possible to present to the Holy Father on June 3, 1934, one
of the Roman undertakings directed by the Daughters of Mary Help of
Christians. The 'Santa Cecelia' School ofTestaccio had approximately five
hundred boys, girls, and young women, and was divided into kindergarten,
grammar school, professional school, an after-school program, oratory and
associations. The Pope had words of praise for the affectionate, considerate
address with which these had been announced to him. "The sentiments it
expressed can be traced back to Don Bosco's own mind and heart," he
said. "They are sentiments which his children have inherited from him and
which now are being inculcated into so many souls, among whom happen
to be also your souls, most beloved Daughters." At the end of the audience,
as he listed the people whom he wished to bless, he mentioned all the Sis-
ters and the benefactresses who took care of their spiritual welfare, hon-
oring that Jesus Who commands that all should love and do good. Then
he concluded: "It was by obedience to these commands that Don Bosco
accomplished all that he has done and all that he has left that young souls
might benefit from it and have the advantage ofbeing professionally trained
for life." He praised Don Bosco once again when he welcomed a group
ofDaughters of Mary Help of Christians at Castelgandolfo, where they had
just completed their retreat. Among the group were Salesian Sisters from
India and the Americas, older nuns, sisters newly professed, and novices.
The Pope remarked that their zealous group of sisters represented "fully
the life ofthe marvelous congregation, the sweet fruit of Don Bosco' s devo-
tion, gratitude and love for the Blessed Virgin Help of Christians." The
paternal eyes of His Holiness saw in these people the "living, tangible, and
prolific offshoots of the mighty Congregation of the Daughters of Mary
Help of Christians, who in Don Bosco' s name, waged a courageous apos-
tolic battle in all five Continents of the world." 8
The presence of seminary students repeatedly offered to the Pope occa-
sions to appeal to the authority and example of Don Bosco. The Brothers
8 L'Osservatore Romano, June 4-5 and August 9, 1934.

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of the Christian Schools of Ireland, who are known as the Christian Brothers,
presented to the Pope one hundred and sixty of their past pupils who were
studying for the priesthood, or who were already priests. The Pope pointed
out how precious those beautiful vocations were and made it loud and clear
that they were the outcome of a Christian life learned through a Christian
education, that kind of Christian life whence the great types of sanctity, the
gigantic types of sanctity, stem, such as the recent kinds of sanctity dis-
played by Cottolengo and Don Bosco. He also added that these types of
sanctity were nothing else but Christian life lived to the fullest. Then, as
he was handing out medals of the new Saint, the Pope remarked that he,
too, had been a great Christian Brother who had done a great amount of
good in the field of Christian education.9 He spoke at greater length about
Don Bosco to some two hundred or more young men from the Major, Minor
and Juridical Pontifical Seminaries of Rome. These were the Pope's reflec-
tions and teachings: "The Holy Year ended with the glorification of a great
priest who was fully and sincerely aware that he was an instrument ofRedemp-
tion, especially for Youth, a Youth so exposed to temptation and to danger,
for a needy youth. It is quite proper then that he should be proposed as a
model for all future priests. When we look at him, at first sight he might
appear only as a priest who had no other aspirations than to piously and
devotedly care for souls. As a matter of fact, We have seen him personally,
entirely engaged in hearing confessions, in comforting souls who relied on
him, in doing priestly ministry. He did this because he knew that Piety was
all-important, the first essential requisite for a priest. But Don Bosco may
be seen from another perspective. We have had reason to wonder whether
Don Bosco might have had the genuine vocation to be a scholar. Certainly,
Don Bosco had a great love of learning and a great propensity for it. One
might almost say that he might have been 'seduced' to study to the point
of running the risk of being victimized by study. Don Bosco planned to
provide for the Church and for Italy a history, a history which might be
for the Church what the work of Muratori, a holy priest himself, had been
for Italy. Here you have two aspects of Saint John Bosco' s personality. Young
seminarians should be led by this two-fold consideration: to look at and
reflect on what is most suited for them, exactly suited for them, namely
piety and study. Piety should always hold the place of honor, because if
study should take first place, then study becomes pretentious futility, and
an alluring danger. But if you examine the person of St. John Bosco, you
9 L'Osservatore Romano, April 15, 1934.

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will be able to prepare yourselves for life and action, for that life which
will represent a genuine source of wonder for all. Indeed, in the history of
the priesthood and of the apostolate there are few who have accomplished
so much and have prepared so much for the salvation of souls. Da mihi
animas [Give me souls]; this is the motto of St. John Bosco." 10
A few days later, the Pope spoke once again of Don Bosco's propensity
for study to the members of the University of Rome and to Catholic Action
Associations, both men and women members. "We would like to hand to
each of you as a little souvenir some small medals which your hearts might
consider enlarging," he said. "They are the medals of St. John Bosco, or
Don Bosco as people will continue to call him, and they are truly suitable
for you. Don Bosco was more a man of action than a man of learning, yet
he was one of the greatest friends Youth had met since the beginning of
time. Very great is the number of young souls who were saved either by
Don Bosco or his spiritual sons. Their numbers run into millions, and they
are all over the world. Now, although Don Bosco had never been a uni-
versity student, at a certain point Don Bosco had thought and desired to
be one. He did not lack either a lively intellectual talent or great capacity
to work, so that he was not intimidated by any kind of undertaking. He had
already planned to produce a great scientific work, but he himself acknowl-
edged in Our presence that he had abandoned the idea because he had felt
himself called to a more specific mission, the salvation of Youth, and also
because he felt that he lacked an adequate preparation for higher studies.
This is one of the characteristics of this man who was endowed with such
abundant common sense. He felt that he would never make a university
student. When We praised him for his prowess in printing and for the
equipment used for that cultural production which was regarded with
wonder in his institutions, with a sense of humility and holy simplicity, Don
Bosco, speaking of himself in the third person, as he always did, said: 'In
these things Don Bosco always wants to be in the vanguard of progress.'
These should also be your words." 11
Again, when speaking to blue-collar workers, the Pope pointed to Don
Bosco as an example they would do well to imitate, as a protector they
should invoke, as a teacher they should follow. This is what he said to the
blue-collar workers of the Roman Gas Company: "You will all receive a
medal bearing the likeness of Saint John Bosco who was a great friend of
10 L'Osservatore Romano, June 17, 1934.
11 L'Osservatore Romano, June 24, 1934.

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Labor. He was a genuine friend of Labor who sanctified labor and who
organized Labor Unions, but his organizations had an orientation toward
deep sanctity." Again, to a thousand blue-collar workers from Legnano, the
Pope said: "We wish to give each of you a medal of Saint John Bosco as
a souvenir. By the grace of Divine Providence, We were permitted to pro-
claim Saint this great Servant of God. Saint John Bosco was a wonderful
worker; We saw him in action and were fortunate enough to make his acquain-
tance. This wonderful organizer and educator of Labor, especially of the
Labor of Young people, of professional, technical, skilled labor, is an ideal
figure which suits any honest working man, and so We are happy to point
him out to all of you as a wonderful model and as a great protector." Again,
when speaking to Roman road maintenance workers, the Holy Father said:
"We shall give each of you a small, holy medal of Saint Jo}m Bosco, and
together with this gift, We will point out the splendid figure of this new
Saint, a great Christian worker. May you be devotees of Don Bosco and
may you invoke him as your heavenly patron, who intercedes for divine
graces on your behalf." To other categories of workers, such as the Sardi-
nian miners, the Pope just had the medal distributed without any comment.12
Don Bosco was singled out and pointed out also to the leaders of
workers. In the audience granted to distinguished members of the Italian
Association of Electro- technology who came from different regions of
Italy, including Rome, Naples and Bari, the Pope referred to some new
features of his encounter with the Saint in Turin. The engineers had just
inspected the Vatican electro-technical plants and so the Pope said: "Your
inspection of the Vatican electro-technical plants reminds Us of another
visit made to another electro-technical plant, of a visit We made to a person
who can really be called an up-to-date man, a man whom, by the grace of
Divine Providence, We have elevated to the supreme honors of the Altar:
Saint John Bosco, formerly a great man and now a Saint. We had the
occasion to get to know him with certain ease and to have the good fortune
to acquire a deeper knowledge of him; we considered him a first-class man,
an extraordinary man from any prospective. Therefore We know that Saint
John Bosco felt a specific attraction for machines, more than for any other
tool; the most recent types of machinery, the most perfect electrical equip-
ment, available in his times, many years ago. We recall that when We
congratulated him for all the new equipment, for the equipment used in his
paper mills, for the equipment used in the print shop and with everything
12 L'Osservatore Romano, May 7-8th, 10th; June 27th, July 13th, 1934.

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
connected with printing and all kinds of machinery, he answered Us with
a tone of pride, speaking as he always did in the third person in reference
to himself: 'Don Bosco always wanted to be in the vanguard of Progress
in such things.' These are the words to be remembered and to be put into
practice." 13
The same recollection received a few additional details when the Pope
had an audience with the journalists of the Roman daily papers and the
Rome correspondents of the most prestigious Italian newspapers. As usual,
the cue was connected with the souvenir medals: "Saint Don Bosco can
justifiably stand as an example, as a model for everyone to follow, because
of that perfect type of humanity that he displayed. But he can likewise be
singled out, and with very good reason, as a special protector of newsmen,
since he had a special predilection for the press which he used in doing
the good that he accomplished, especially for that good which had to do
with his beloved Youth. Don Bosco was very fond of the press, and it was
precisely in connection with printing machines that We Ourselves asked
him how did they come to be so perfect. This beloved Saint answered, using
the third person as he always did: 'In these things Don Bosco wishes to
be in the vanguard of Progress, as always.' " 14
We shall report only two more instances. The first is rather a curious
one, while the second has the value of precious testimony.
The Palatine Guard of Honor had obtained a special audience with His
Holiness, in order to reaffirm its filial piety and deep devotion to the Vicar
of Jesus Christ. In a benevolent reply to the speech made by their Com-
mander, His Holiness again mentioned Don Bosco. As he was distributing
medals to the guards, the Pope said: "These are up-to-date medals and they
bear the likeness of a great soldier: St. John Bosco, whom all the world
will continue to call simply: Don Bosco. He was a great subject, an
exemplary soldier of Christ, a most honored guard, a most faithful soldier
for the Holy Church and for what the Heart of the Redeemer and the Heart
of the Church hold dear: youth-tomorrow's future, and for whom he
worked so much and in such a special manner. Don Bosco was not only
a model of virtue, of perfection, and of priestly ministry, but he was also
the soldier and the invincible and indefatigable worker for every under-
taking directed to the good. Don Bosco will be a powerful intercessor for
the members of the Palatine Guard."
13 L'Osservatore Romano, May 17, 1934.
14 L'Osservatore Romano, June 11-12, 1934.

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While he handed out medals to the members of the Archconfraternity
of Nocturnal Adoration, the Holy Father took the opportunity to single out
something very important. How many people believed that Don Bosco,
absorbed as he was in his work, was a man with little or no time for prayer.
But the Pope did not think so. "The likeness on this medal is perfectly
suited to you," he said "because this is the likeness of a man who adored,
who adored continuously. We Ourselves had occasion to observe him absorbed
in devout prayer both day and night, although his days were full of intense
activity. Don Bosco drew from the Sacred Host all his immense zeal to
educate Youth in their faith, and in their Christian way of living. Therefore,
let this Saint be the protector of the members of the Confraternity of the
Nocturnal Adoration. Let this be the spirit who does only good as a Chris-
tian should and as the guardian who protects your dear families." 15
What a deep and lasting impression that visit to Don Bosco's first print
shop must have made on Pius XI if, in his high office, he recalled it so
fondly half a century later! Nor was the recollection merely an oft-repeated
verbal reminiscence. As a matter of fact, in 1936 when the Pope wanted
to reorganize the Vatican printing establishment, he entrusted to the Sale-
sians its technical direction and administration. The Salesians who had
been chosen to do this work, prior to their taking over the assignment, went
to Castelgandolfo to receive the Pope's blessing. The Pope told them then
that it had been entirely his own idea to send for them, and added that he
had toyed with the project for a long time because he had always followed
the developments of their excellent, extensive activity in this field assigned
to them by their Saintly Founder, and felt deep admiration for them. The
Pope told them: "With his clairvoyant insight, Don Bosco foresaw and
realized fully the decisive contribution that printing and publishing would
bring in our present day and age to the Christian apostolate and Christian
education."
15 L'Osservatore Romano, May 28-29; June 3, 1934.

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Qtqapter 16
The Feast of Don Bosco's Canonization in Turin
In Rome, the capital of the Catholic world and the capital of Italy, it
was the faithful of all nations and the citizens of the Eternal City who held
celebrations in honor of St. John Bosco. But in Turin, the Saint's chosen
domicile and the center of his charitable undertakings, as well as being the
headquarters of his Society, the solemn, triumphal festivities organized in
his honor had an additional flavor which featured intimacy and cordiality.
This was to be expected in a place where everything still echoed of Don
Bosco, of his zeal, of his goodness, and of his miracles, and where there
were still many people who could recall having seen him and heard him
speak, or who had been touched by his kindness and by his deeds of love.
Thousands of tourists, both Italians and foreigners, swarmed into Turin
during the three days prior to the celebrations. The majority of the pilgrims
were moved by a sense of piety. However, if some had come only out of
curiosity, they only had to move to the Valdocco Oratory grounds; this
would have been enough to have their curiosity change to veneration. Truly,
the Oratory environment seemed alive with sort of miraculous air. People
from all walks of life were continuously ascending and descending the
stairs which led to Don Bosco' s humble rooms, all of them eager to see
with their own eyes the place from which the Saint had shed so many rays
of goodness.
The Italian Royal Family, the Princes of Piedmont and all the other
princes and princesses of Savoy, took on once again the high patronage
of the Turin festivities, as they had already done in Rome. They were joined
now by two Knights of the Collar of the Annunciation: the 'Duke of the
Sea,' Paul Thaon di Revel and the Italian Field Marshal Cajetan Giardino,
as well as by Count Caesar De Vecchi, the Italian Ambassador to the Holy
See, who had come as the official representatives of the Royal Government.
All the Authorities and the Representative; of the lay and ecclesiastical
worlds were members of a distinguished Honorary Committee, of which
the Cardinal Archbishop was the President, having as his vice-president
Augustus Iraci, the Prefect of Turin. The Executive Committee, which had
worked in Rome under the direction of Father Berruti, the Prefect General
of the Salesian Congregation, had already been at work in Turin for several

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months. The experience of the 1929 Beatification Festivities had taught
how many and what kind of Committees were needed if they wished to
properly provide for everything. At this time, a significant contribution was
provided by Salesian Patronesses, whose Honorary President was Lydia
d' Aremberg, the Duchess of Pistoia, while the actual President was the
Marchioness Carmen Compans de Brichanteau. It was not a question of
generating enthusiasm, but of directing the manifestations in an orderly
fashion. This promised to be very difficult in view of the overwhelming
number of visitors from both near and far.
After careful preliminary study, the Executive Committee had already
drawn up the program for the festivities. As April was drawing near, it had
filed the application required by the law with the Prefect of the Province,
requesting permission to hold the planned public manifestations. Then an
application was made to the Mayor for permission to make free use of the
municipal property on which various installations were to be erected, both
in the immediate vicinity of the church of Mary Help of Christians and
along the route where the procession was scheduled to pass. Another
application was made for the use of parking lots for the busses and cars
at the Stadium and elsewhere, for the necessary services of the police, and
for medical assistance. When all permits had been received, application
was made to the government for extraordinary discounts in railway fares.
The Italian Ambassador to the Holy See, De Vecchi, took personal charge
of this request and thanks to his mediation; a 50% discount for individual
pilgrims and a 70% reduction for groups of no less than fifteen persons was
granted by the President of the Cabinet of Ministers. One hundred thousand
badges and fifty thousand passes or booklets were ordered, the former to
be put on sale at one lire each, the latter at two lire apiece. The passes or
booklets had thirty pages; twenty of them were vouchers for lunch baskets
and meals at a ten percent discount rate; the remaining pages gave details
of the scheduled festivities, the route of the procession, and the words of
the hymn for the occasion. A great number of posters were printed, too.
Each time the Committee received notification of pilgrimages, forms were
sent, to be returned with detailed information useful in making arrange-
ments for lodging, food, and the order of the procession.
The problem of finding accommodations was more acute than it had
been in 1929, not only because many more ordinary pilgrims and many
more distinguished Cooperators were expected, but also because the Rec-
tor Major, Father Peter Ricaldone, had sent invitations to all the Bishops
of Italy, asking them to personally attend the festivities. Many foreign

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Prelates, too, had announced their intention of going to Turin for the
celebrations. However, the hospitality of the Turinese people was no less
generous than it had been in 1929, and the pastors, the religious, the
boarding schools and private houses vied with one another, offering hospi-
tality to anyone assigned to them by the Committee.
Another problem centered on the need to provide adequate transpor-
tation facilities for the Bishops, especially because they had to travel back
and forth from their lodgings several times a day. Senator Agnelli, the
owner of the Fiat automobile plant, was most helpful in solving this prob-
lem, for he sent twenty new automobiles, each with its own chauffeur, to
the Oratory playground for the duration of the festivities. He also gave
orders that comfortable sleeping accommodations were to be made ready
in the premises formerly used for the car storage at his plant, where some
thousand Salesian pupils and past pupils could lodge. City Hall made
available two hundred beds, and the military warehouses lent five hundred
camp beds and one thousand five hundred straw mattresses with blankets.
All available accommodations in hotels had been reserved two months in
advance for foreign visitors.
Pilgrims were assisted in their travels and in their sojourn with facilities
offered them by several companies, by the State, by private railways, and
by the trolley car and bus companies. The Red Cross, Green Cross and
White Cross Associations shared responsibility for First Aid services. Loud
speakers were installed in the Oratory playgrounds, in the area outside the
church of Mary Help of Christians, and all along Corso Regina Margherita,
to enable the vast crowds of spectators to follow the sacred rites. Permis-
sion was obtained to broadcast by radio the more important church ser-
vices. Expert masters of ceremonies, under the leadership of Father
Eusebius Vismara, prepared themselves to direct with due dignity the
ceremonies of so great a magnitude. Assisted by Professor Gribaudi and
by the attorney Battu, noble gentlemen of the Royal Court agreed to
supervise the protocol in the official welcome to be given to the princes
and others of high rank. In short, no detail was overlooked in order that
the extraordinary event might run smoothly, with order, with decorum and
magnificence.
The preparatory triduum began on April 5, 1934. At dawn, the doors
of the church of Mary Help of Christians were opened to the pilgrims who
were already crowding the square outside the church. Inside, the church
was ablaze with lights, richly decorated, and fragrant with flowers. The

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painting by Crida, which as we already said, was later presented to the Holy
Father on the 18th of the month, was hanging over the altar in St. Peter's
Chapel, where the casket of the Saint was on view.
Very early that morning, the Crown Prince, who had left Pisa the night
before, arrived quite unexpectedly and in great secrecy at the church, and
went up immediately to Don Bosco' s small rooms, where he attended Mass
very devoutly.
He was recognized, and the news of his presence spread through the
House, and reached the ears of the Superiors who hastened to pay him their
respects. As he came downstairs, he crossed the playground, while the boys
and the people of the town hailed him with acclamations; then he very
graciously accepted a cup of coffee. It was served to him with great
simplicity in the dining room of the Superior Chapter. While he drank it,
he asked about the celebrations that were scheduled for the following
Sunday. It was evident that he was still filled with the deep emotion he had
experienced in Rome at Easter time.
For the next four days, the church was full ofpeople. They also invaded
the Oratory playgrounds, and gathered in front of the church. It was both
edifying and touching to see the pious attention with which thousands of
them outside the church followed over the loudspeakers the services being
performed within. These conveyed to them the sounds ofmusic and singing,
and the sermons. Now and then the pilgrims crossed themselves, knelt down,
or uttered the responses to the liturgical prayers; they were doing exactly
what was being done by those able to kneel near the altar during the sacred
ceremonies. We can hardly say enough about frequenting the sacraments!
~ould anyone imagine a festivity in honor of St. John Bosco without an
infinite number of the faithful going to Confession and Holy Communion?
The confessionals were literally besieged from dawn until dusk; hour after
hour three priests administered the Blessed Sacrament almost uninterrupt-
edly, at times by turn, at times all together.
Each ofthe three days ofthe triduum was assigned to a particular group.
The first day was assigned to the Institutes and Associations for men. Assisted
by eight Bishops, the Archbishop ofBologna, Cardinal Nasalli-Rocca, ponti-
ficated. The Princes of Orleans occupied special places of honor in the sanc-
tuary. In the afternoon after Vespers, His Eminence Cardinal Hlond delivered
the panegyric. Taking as a starting point the manifestations held in the Eter-
nal City, he succinctly reviewed the multiform activity of Don Bosco all
over the world.

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April 6, 1934, was assigned to the clergy. The Archbishop of Naples,
CardinalAscalesi, celebrated Pontifical Mass, while the choir oftheArchepis-
copal Seminary sang. Ten more Bishops joined the Bishops of the previous
day. The evening sermon was delivered by the Archbishop of Milan, Cardi-
nal Schuster, who explained how Don Bosco' s multiform activity was related
directly to his multiform sanctity, and defined him as a Saint great beyond
description.
Saturday was assigned to Institutes and Associations for women, among
whom, naturally, there were very many Daughters of Mary Help of Chris-
tians. Cardinal Maurin, the Archbishop of Lyons, sang the Mass, assisted
by some thirty Prelates, Archbishops, and Bishops. A large choir of young
girls sang in a manner that defies all praise. It was directed by the magical
baton of an elderly Salesian priest, Father Grosso, who had rehearsed them.
A sermon, outstanding for the originality of details, for its depth of thought
and for the eloquence of its form, was delivered by Cardinal Nassalli-Rocca
in the evening.
On each of the three days there were two evening services. The second
service began at eight o'clock for the convenience of working class people
who came, filling the church and the surrounding area. While one Bishop
preached, another imparted benediction with the Blessed Sacrament. Every
evening twenty thousand tiny electric light bulbs instantaneously illumi-
nated the fa<;ade and the cupola of the Basilica as soon as the Blessed
Sacrament was exposed. Later, the Oratory band gave a concert in the
square. All the while, the surging tide of devout pilgrims continued to file
past the bier of Don Bosco without interruption.
We should not omit to mention a little episode which attests to the
popular devotion and the delight felt for Don Bosco. An old married couple,
both in their eighties, braved the discomforts of the journey from their
remote Piedmontese village in order not to miss the triumph of the priest
who had joined them in holy matrimony. They also called on Father Peter
Ricaldone and told him that the only wedding present which the Saint, in
his poverty, had been able to give them, had been an autographed copy of
his A Companion to Youth in which he had written a dedication and a word
of exhortation, telling them to read the chapter which speaks of Paradise
and of the means needed to merit it.
The evening of the Vigil saw the members of Catholic Youth Organi-
zation of Turin perform a religious function worthy of mention. The mem-
bers of the Youth organizations ofTurin assembled for an hour of adoration
in the church of St. Francis of Assisi, where Don Bosco had begun his

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extraordinary Mission with the very popular story about young Garelli. The
Diocesan President was present. The pious rite was an excellent spiritual
preparation for the glorification of the following days.
Unfortunately, the day did not dawn serene on April 8th. It began with
an irritating, fine drizzle which fell at intervals. Later it became a steady
downpour which at times was positively torrential. But the piety of the
crowd was not dimished by the inclement weather. At different places
outside the church, Mass was celebrated without interruption, so that
everyone might have the opportunity to fulfill the Sunday obligation. Even
though it was raining hard, a priest approached the improvised altar in the
square every half hour, and celebrated the Mass under a makeshift roof
which protected him from the inclement weather. Cardinal Vidal y Barra-
quer, the Archbishop of Tarragona, said Mass for the boarders of the
Oratory. Then the church was cleared to make room for the invited guests
and different delegations.
The entire central body of the church was reserved for Archbishops and
Bishops, for whom four long pews covered with damask were prepared at
the far end of the church, near the altar rails. They faced each other, two
by two. Behind the Bishops on the Gospel side of the altar, were pews for
representatives of the Diocesan and Religious clergy, while on the Epistle
side were pews for the General Council of the Daughters of Mary Help of
Christians, for the delegations from religious Congregations of women,
and for some important laity. Five special chairs faced the Archepiscopal
throne in the sanctuary; these were for five of the Cardinals previously
mentioned. The only one missing was His Eminence Cardinal Schuster,
who had to return to Milan immediately after his sermon.
Fortunately, the heavy clouds covering the sky withheld the downpour
of rain until the majestic cortege of priests coming from the Oratory passed
through the churchyard and entered the Basilica shortly before the begin-
ning of the Pontifical Mass. One hundred and twenty Prefects Apostolic,
Bishops, Archbishops, and Cardinals, all wearing copes and miters, walked
behind the cross-crowned staff and the altar-servers. The last in line was
Cardinal Maurilio Fossati, clad in magnificent pontifical vestments, adorned
with the sacred pallium. France was represented by the Cardinal of Lyons
and by the Bishops of Annecy, Frejus, Langres, Lourdes, Metz, and Mont-
pellier. Spain was represented by the Cardinal ofTarragona and the Bishop
of Malaga. Poland was represented by the Cardinal Primate: Carl Hlond;
Lithuania by two Prelates who had just been freed from Russian prisons;

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
Malta was represented by the Bishop of Gozo. South America was repre-
sented by the Bishop of Talea from Peru, the Bishop of Taija from Bolivia
and the Bishop of Santos from Brazil. The Salesians who had come from
India were the Prefect Apostolic of Assam, the Apostolic Administrator of
Krishnagar, and the Archbishop of Madras; the Prelates of Rio Negro and
Puerto Velho, and the Archbishop of Belem do Para had come from Brazil;
the Bishop of Concepcion had come from Ecuador; the Bishop of Punta
Arenas (formerly Magellanes) from Chile; and Bishop Piani, the Apostolic
Delegate from the Philippines.
All this procession of high-ranking clergy moved with impeccable
good order, thanks to the careful preparations and the more unique than
rare expert skill of Father Eusebius Vismara, who managed to have all the
liturgical movements required by the ceremonies performed by an impres-
sive company of Prelates with dignity, uniformity and proper training. The
new Mass, composed especially for this occasion by Father De Bonis, a
Salesian, was judged absolutely suited for the occasion.1
Cardinal Fossati preached his homily after the Gospel. He began by
recalling the joy of the recent Roman Easter celebration, which the Holy
Father had defined as a "Salesian Easter." Then he depicted with great
eloquence the magnificent figure of St. John Bosco, dwelling particularly
on his characteristic aspect of Father and Teacher to the young, and he
exalted his indefatigable apostolic work.
Meanwhile, outside the rain was pouring down. Despite this, the play-
grounds, the square, and the avenue all were crowded with people. The
picturesque-and perhaps never seen before-spectacle of umbrellas, one
jammed tightly against another, formed something akin to an immense
Roman Testudo [a tortoise shell] which hemmed in the church on all sides,
as though it were a fortress about to be assaulted. It might be said that those
countless open umbrellas looked like a mushroom patch, using a more
suitable image.
After the hours of the Spirit there come-and rightly so-the hours of
the body. Father Giraudi, the Economer General, had transformed the
spacious dining room of the artisans into a stately hall where the Cardinals
and Bishops partook of their repasts. The artisans' dining room ordinarily
1 L'Archiginnasio (Bologna, May-June issue, 1934): "This is one of the more significant and exciting
compositions of sacred music that has been produced in recent years. In it you can detect as outstanding to the
highest degree those stylistic features and great original forms that we had the opportunity of singling out when we
critically reviewed other compositions by the same author. It is not too much to say that, this Mass displays the total
creative power of the author as well as the technical mastery of his music. We are dealing with a composition, which
leaves the footprints of originality and novelty within the field of modem sacred music, and it does reveal intuitions
and ideas worthy of consideration and admiration.

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was used by more than three hundred people, and thus it was vast enough
to accommodate comfortably all the newly-invited guests, plus all the other
guests, and properly honor them on this feast day. To a great extent trained
hotel waiters served at table. In spite of the noble transformation of the
dining room, the distinguished guests could read the words "Dining Room
of the Artisans" above the entrance door. This inferred that Don Bosco' s
undertakings have the miraculous ability to adapt themselves easily to any
contingency.
Between the religious services, the faithful continued to file silently
and steadily through the church, each eager to say a prayer beside the glass
casket which contained the sacred remains of the Saint. Nor was there any
break in the stream of people who visited Don Bosco's rooms. Another
procession was scheduled for the afternoon, and all wondered whether or
not it would take place. All the arrangements had been made. The route
was established;2 the marchers had been divided into eighteen groups, and
assembly points had been assigned to each group, as well as instruction
on when to join the procession and take its proper place upon arrival; the
individual group leaders, too, had been appointed. Already on April 3rd,
invitations had been sent out, while a special hymn had been written,3 set
to music and rehearsed. But the weather had to be taken into account. The
rain continued to fall in a steady downpour, and matters were uncertain
until three-fifteen, when word came that despite the deluge thousands and
thousands of people, disregarding the deluge, had stood in line since early
morning all along the established itinerary. Their heroic patience prevailed
over any passing indecision. The loudspeakers announced that the proces-
sion would take place. An outburst of joy was heard all about the Basilica,
spreading rapidly into the adjoining streets. The decision had been imposed
upon all by the crowd, though it would now become a procession with
umbrellas. Three hundred thousand hearts were impatient to acclaim the
Saint, no matter what the cost.
It was not a procession of compact groups, as it had been in 1929. Yet,
had the sun been able to pierce through the low hanging clouds, Turin
would have enjoyed the spectacle presented by a longer line of Bishops
2 The route, which was 5,300 meters long, was thefollowing: startingfrom: Church ofMary Help ofChristians-
Corso Regina Margherita; Corso Regina Margherita-Corner of Via Consolata; Corner of Via Consolata-Piazza
Cittadella; Piazza Cittadella-Corso Oporto; Corso Oporto-Corso Re Umberto; Corso Re Umberto-Piazza Solfe-
rino; Piazza Solferino-Corner ofVia Pietro Micca; Corner ofVia Pietro Micca-Via XX Setembre; Via XX Settembre-
Cathedral; Cathedral-Corso Margherita (Comer); Corner of Corso Regina Margherita-back to: Church of Mary
Help of Christians.
3 The lyrics by Father Rastello, music by Father Pagella.

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
than the glorious old city had ever witnessed within its walls. The splendid
parade of miters and other episcopal insignia was missing, but the Prelates
themselves were there. Moreover, the inclement weather only seemed to
emphasize the love that Turin had for its own Don Bosco. There is a story
about a little child who had asked her father why so many people were
standing in the rain to await Don Bosco, and the father is said to have
replied: "Because everyone loves him." Could simpler words than these
be found to explain the mystery of such a great event? It was true indeed
that aquae multae non potuerunt extinguere caritatem, loosely translated
as "the downpour could not stop the love for Don Bosco."
This triumphal procession underneath umbrellas lasted four hours. The
eighteen individual groups followed one another with the regularity of
soldiers on the march. The enthusiasm displayed by the marchers and by
the crowd never waned, from beginning to end. No finer expression could
have been found to display the universal, unanimous consensus about the
honor due to Don Bosco than this procession. When we review its compo-
sition in detail, we see how every category of person, and how many
representatives of foreign countries were there to pay tribute to a humble
son of the people who, with his heroic charity, had "conquered the hearts
of Modem Men, who all too often go astray, following the false appear-
ances of good.''
The procession began at 3:30 P.M., preceded by a company of munici-
pal police on bicycles.
GROUPS I and II - Groups of little girls dressed as pages led rows
of young girls from the Oratories of the Daughters of Mary Help of
Christians in Turin. There were 2,500 of these, and, as they marched, they
sang the official hymn to the strains of the Salesian Band from the House
of San Benigno. Behind them marched 3,000 boys who attended the Sale-
sian Oratories of Turin; they were accompanied by the "Michael Rua"
Oratory brass band, the Band of St. Paul's' Oratory, that of the first festive
Oratory of Valdocco, and the "Cardinal Cagliero" Band.
GROUPS ill, IV, and V - The third group was made up of the squad-
rons of the Fascist 'Little Italian Girls' Organization and that of 'Young
Italian Women' (Giovane ltaliane) with delegations representing the Asso-
ciation of Fascist Women. This group was accompanied by the Excelsior
Band and musicians of the 'Fiat' After-Work Recreation Association of
Turin. The third Group was followed by the 4th, which was made up of

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small boys of the National Fascist Association 'Balilla', young Fascist Van-
guard Troops, (Avanguardisti) and delegations ofthe Association ofFascist
Men, with the Bands of St. Bernardine's Parish and the Turin District Group
''Gustave Doglia.'' The long columns of 17 Turin Institutes and Boarding
Schools for girls were separated by the band of Young Apprentices, which
was followed by the pupils of 15 Institutes and Boarding Schools for boys,
and by a large delegation from secondary schools who made up Group V.4
GROUPS VI, VII and VIII- Group VI was led by the Salesian Band
from the "Count Rebaudengo" Institute of Turin. It was made up of 830
boys from the Salesian schools of Turin: Sassi (for orphans only), Marti-
nello, Rebaudengo, St. John's and Valsalice. It was followed by Group VII,
led by the band of St. Julia's parish church of Turin, and it was made up
of 6460 girls, pupils of the schools and oratories of the Daughters of Mary
Help of Christians from Piedmont. Their ranks were broken by the Salesian
bands from the Chieri Oratory and the Santena Festive Oratory. 3840 boys
from 22 Salesian schools and oratories from Piedmont marched in the 8th
Group, led by the Salesian band from the Oratory ofAsti. The ranks of the
marching boys were interspersed with the bands from the Salesian schools
of Novara, Faenza, Trieste, and San Dona del Piave.
GROUPIX-This group represented Catholic Action Organizations:
first to march was the Young Girls Association all dressed in white, a true
vision of purity; behind them there came the University Students Associa-
tion "Gaetana Agnesi" and the Association of Catholic Women. Their
ranks were separated from those of the Associations for Men by the Sale-
sian band from the school of Casale Monferrato. The male associations
were: Young Italian Men, the University Students Associations "Caesar
Balbo," while the Salesian band from the Agricultural Institute of Lombri-
asco led the Association of Catholic Men and the Diocesan Council: in all,
a group of more than 8,000 people.
GROUP X - This group was more complex, and was led by the
Salesian band from the school of Alexandria. It headed a large delegation
of past pupils of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and the Salesian
Cooperators, followed by the Salesian band from Varazze, the Ladies of
Mary Help of Christians, and lady members of Third Orders. The Salesian
4 In a circular addressed to Secondary School Principals, the Royal School Superintendent, A. Mondino, had
written: "I want our Turin schools, which have a very special love for the Great Educator, to take part in the
demonstration of faith, and to send delegations of their pupils and teachers. with banners, and to march in the
procession."

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
band from Borgo San Martino marched ahead of members of the Con-
ference of St. Vincent de Paul and some 2,000 past pupils of Don Bosco.
The Salesian band from the school of Penango brought up the rear, accom-
panying the joyous singing of a large delegation of Salesian Cooperators
and members of Third Orders.
GROUP XI- This group was led by the band of the Salesian Oratory
of Milan, and consisted of delegations of schools of the Daughters of Mary
Help of Christians, both from Italy and from abroad. The 794 young girls
wore delightful uniforms. Their ranks were separated from the delegations
of boys from Salesian schools in Italy and abroad by the Salesian band from
Sampierdarena. The Milan schools were represented by 380 boys, while
other schools were represented by a total of 560 boys who had been chosen
from their companions because of their good conduct, study, and work.
When the pupils from the "Pius XI" school of Rome marched past, the
crowd broke into applause for the Vicar of Christ, shouting, "Long live the
Pope!" at regular intervals.
GROUP XII - This was made up of foreign pilgrims representing
every country of Europe: 217 pilgrims from Belgium, 1380 from France,
600 from Spain. Among other countries where Salesian Houses are located,
the largest group was from Argentina. Escorting the pilgrims were bands
from the Missionary Agricultural School of Cumiana and from the Salesian
school of Milan.
GROUP Xill - This group was led by the band of the Rome institute
Pius XI, and was made up of children of Mary and of religious Congre-
gations of women. Behind them came the Daughters of Mary Help of
Christians and their General Council. The band of the St. Francis of Sales
Oratory in Turin brought up the rear.
GROUP XIV - Behind the latter band, the lengthy cross-crowned
staff appeared; it was followed by Group XIV, made up of lay brothers and
seminarians from several religious Congregations; the students from the
Diocesan Seminaries of Giaveno, Chieri, and Turin, Salesian seminarians,
a number of Salesian Bishops and Archbishops wearing cope and miter
beneath the shelter provided by their umbrellas. His Eminence Cardinal
Fossati, the Archbishop of Turin, together with Cardinal Ascalesi and
Cardinal Hlond rode in the automobiles which the Fiat had kindly put at
their disposal. The Knights of Malta and of the Holy Sepulchre, and
Knights and Commanders from similar Orders, provided a striking, deco-
rative note to this group. Behind them came the Cardinals, the Rector
Major, the members of the Superior Chapter who walked on foot, and then

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the delegations of Salesians, Cooperators, and past pupils who formed a
Guard of Honor around the triumphal vehicle which bore the glass casket
with Don Bosco's sacred remains. The Reverend Father Louis Orione,
Count Eugene Rebaudengo-the General President of Salesian Coopera-
tors and Senator of the Realm, and Masera, the President of the past pupils,
marched in this group.
GROUP XV - The crowd acclaimed the glass casket, which halted
briefly in Piazza Consolata, where the XV Group was waiting to join the
procession. This group consisted of representatives of different religious
Orders and Congregations, Fathers Provincial, members of the Diocesan
Clergy, Church Rectors, Salesian Priests and Pastors, Superiors-General
of religious Congregations, Canons from collegiate churches and from the
Cathedral, and a number of Prelates, Bishops and Archbishops. They stood
under a modest shelter outside the Basilica.
GROUPS XVI, XVII, XVIII - The Fiat and a number of noble
families had offered automobiles, for the convenience of the Bishops;
however, many of them preferred to brave the rain on foot, under the
protection of their umbrellas. The picturesque procession then continued
on its way, amid even greater enthusiasm than before. Group XVill fell into
line as soon as the glass bier entered the Piazza Cittadella. It thus made
room for two other groups which were stationed at Piazza Solferino. The
18th Group consisted of: the band of the 1st Legion of the Anti-Aircraft
Militia of the Territorial Defense, and of representatives of local Fascist
groups, the Association of Combat Volunteers, the National Association of
former Service Men, Retired Officers of His Majesty's Carabinieri, former
Service Men who had volunteered for the campaign in France prior to
1915, the National Association of Infantrymen, Grenadiers, Alpine Troops,
Bersaglieri (crack Infantry Troops of Italy), Artillerymen of Piedmont, the
Mountain Artillery, the Engineers' Corps, the Italian Seamen's Union, the
Piedmontese Cavalrymen, the band of Public Utilities Workers of Turin,
and of Civic Associations, Civil Servants, Government Employees, and
National Fascist Federations: Professional, Artists, Industry, Commerce,
Agriculture, and Overland Transportation. There were also representatives
of the unions of Fascist Workers: Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, Handi-
crafts, and the National Associations for After-Work Recreational Facili-
ties. Included in this group were several other groups of pilgrims who had
failed to register their participation in time.
A steadily increasing crowd lining both sides of the wide streets hailed
with frenzied acclamations the glass casket containing the body of the Saint

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
which was clothed in priestly vestments, as though he was about to cele-
brate Mass, and wearing the magnificent chasuble donated by Benedict XV.
Hundreds of people, carrying the indispensable umbrella, craned their
necks to catch a glimpse of the glass bier's triumphant progress from where
they stood, in the high stands that had been erected in the Citadel gardens.
The glass bier moved like in a vision from Heaven, carrying with it
the assurance of a blessing. It was mounted on a chassis covered with
damask, and with flowers all around it. As it passed before them, men bared
their heads, many people fell to their knees, disregarding the rain and the
mud; women made the sign of the cross, children threw kisses, and shouted
Hurrahs! "It seemed," La Stampa wrote, "as though Don Bosco had come
back to life, as though his spirit were living on, a spirit already glorified
and unforgettable."
Handfuls of flowers were thrown from windows and balconies in a
steady shower, and through the window panes everyone tried to catch a
glimpse of the face of the Saint as he passed, like a conquering monarch,
through the city where his prodigious undertakings had first been con-
ceived and had been miraculously developed.
GROUPS XVI and XVII - were waiting in Piazza Solferino where
Count Paul Thaon di Revel, the mayor of Turin and Senator of the Realm,
fell into line immediately behind the glass bier; he was smiling underneath
his umbrella which protected him only in part. With him were the two deputy
Mayors, and behind, there were the civil Authorities and the Consular Corps,
representing sixteen different countries: Albania, Argentina, Austria, Brazil,
Czechoslovakia, France, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Japan, Mexico, the
principality ofMonaco, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, and Peru. There were
also 46 mayors who represented the municipal communities of Piedmont
where there were Houses of Don Bosco' s Salesian Society. The place of
honor was given to the Mayor of Castelnuovo Don Bosco.
The military band of the Turin garrison separated Groups XVI and
XVII, which consisted of delegations of the National Association of Rela-
tives of Fallen War Heroes and Fallen Fascists, the National Association
of War Invalids and Disabled Men, the Blue Ribbon Institute, the Univer-
sity of Turin, the Pontifical Faculties of Law and Theology, the Catholic
University of the Sacred Heart, the Institutes for Higher Studies, the Fascist
School Association, the Fascist Association of University Students, the
"Dante Alighieri" Association, the National Italian Association for the
Transportation of the Sick to Lourdes and to 6 Italian Shrines, and the "Don
Bosco" Teachers Union.

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The procession now passed along Via Pietro Micca, coming from Piazza
Solferino, and down Via XX Settembre, to enter the square in front of the
Cathedral where it passed before the representative of the Italian Govern-
ment, and their Eminences Maurin, Vidal y Barraquer, and Nassalli-Rocca,
and Montanelli, the Archbishop of Vercelli.
To the right of Count De Vecchi stood Iraci, Prefect ofTurin, andAndrew
Gastaldi, the Federal Fascist Secretary. Cantilo, Argentina's Ambassador,
Field Marshal Giardino, political, military, and civil authorities, and a num-
ber of noble ladies filled other seats.
Other Bishops, Canons, and Priests waited inside the doors of the Cathe-
dral, and several hundreds of spectators had found places in the large grand-
stands erected across from the church.
Here again the glass casket halted for a moment, to allow the Cardinals
and Bishops to enter their automobiles and join the procession.
The march was then resumed, passing slowly along the spacious Corso
Regina Margherita, beneath the artificial illumination of the streets and the
flickering radiance of lighted candles carried by the clergy. It was a spec-
tacular sight! Two sturdy files of soldiers who had stood for several hours
in the downpour were now barely able to stem the billowing surge of
humanity that crowded the sidewalks behind the cordons. The farthest
ranks were jammed against the walls of the buildings, and were trying by
every conceivable means to climb to some high point, so that they, too,
might get a glimpse of the most majestic groups in the endless procession.
Many mothers held their umbrellas high over the heads of the soldiers
trying to stem their forward onslaught, and children darted between the legs
of their elders so as to reach the front, finding shelter beneath the short
military capes of the soldiers. Invocations and acclamations arose with a
delirious enthusiasm and burning faith. This was the peak of the triumph
along the whole procession. It was seven-thirty when the glass bier entered
the square in front of the church of Mary Help of Christians. The Basilica
was radiant in a fairy-tale blaze of lights which reached Our Lady atop the
cupola, bathing the statue in a flood of multi-colored light, while the bells
pealed a joyous symphony of glory. From within, the notes of the organ
succeeded one another to create wonderful sounds which seemed to bid
Don Bosco to hurry his entrance into his church, even as the immense
crowd outside tried to delay his entrance so that it might view once again
his mortal remains and the magnificent spectacle.
Don Bosco's entrance into the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians
marked the final triumph. The Archbishops and Bishops were gathered in

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the pews assigned to them, and the whole church was full of dignitaries
and clergy. The Cardinals were on their thrones and two princes of the
House of Savoy were in the sanctuary with the representative of the Italian
Government to welcome the glorious remains of the Saint. Prince Adalbert
of Savoy-Genoa, Duke of Bergamo, had come especially from Milan to
honor Don Bosco with his presence, and to render to him his affectionate
tribute. Her Highness, Princess Mary-Adelaide of Savoy-Genoa, with the
Prince represented the entire royal family. The Central Committee of the
Lady Patronesses of the Salesian Institutes had a pew to themselves near
the St. Joseph's altar.
The glass casket was placed in front of the main altar, and Cardinal
Fossati retired to the sacristy to don his vestments. He then returned to the
altar to impart the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. At the same time,
Cardinal Hlond appeared on the balcony of the (SEI) International Pub-
lishing Company, to bless the crowd which lined Corso Regina Margherita
and the Rondo.
After the singing of the Iste Confessor and Tantum Ergo, the Cardinal
imparted a triple blessing from the main altar; then he moved in procession
to the door of the church, to impart it once more to the immense crowd,
over which a deep, religious silence fell at the warning notes of the trumpet.
There was a brief moment of deep emotion, of adoration, and then came
the deafening shout: "Long live Don Bosco!" Lastly, inspired by the
children, the immense throng broke into an enthusiastic acclamation of
their Saint and into a hymn of benediction and of thanksgiving to God.
After the Divine Praises, (Blessed be God) they sang the Saint's hymn
and other hymns as well, while the majority of the throng began to leave
for home. The pilgrims, anxious to follow the timetable for their departure,
hastened to find their separate means of transportation with which, after
long hours of travel, they would at last reach home. The vast crowd which
still remained pressed forward to enter the church, and now gained access
to it. Late that night, thousands of pilgrims were at last able to file past the
glass bier, to imprint kisses on it, and say a prayer.
Meanwhile, their Royal Highnesses were saluted by the Rector Major,
by the Authorities and the Salesian Superiors, with great respect, and sped
offthrough the inner courtyard in their automobile, acclaimed by the boys,
as they left behind them the Mother House and Don Bosco the Saint.
Acclamations were renewed when the Archbishop and other Princes of
Holy Church took their leave; the Ambassador, Count De Vecchi, was given
a special tribute of gratitude.

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That same evening, the representative ofthe Italian Government informed
La Stampa of his impressions: "Today was one of the most solemn days
in the whole history of Turin. The highest, glorious honors were awarded
to the Saint of Turin, Don Bosco-and exactly where he worked most. This
is the new Saint John who bears the same name as the Patron Saint who
has protected the Faithful City of Turin throughout the ages. His body was
borne through the city, hailed by the entire population with signs of the
highest devotion. The inclement weather did not quench the enthusiasm of
their affectionate Christian piety. In fact, it only seemed to enliven it, just
as adversity always intensifies Christian religion! An entire population led
the procession of the glass casket which contained Don Bosco's sacred
remains; it was followed by the wonderful aristocracy of valor, of sacrifice,
of patriotic ardor. The past was barely represented; few were the old people;
the present also was scarcely represented; but the majority was made up
of the future generations: thousands upon thousands of youngsters whom
Don Bosco loved the most. And everyone invoked him loudly with one
hymn which never became monotonous, because it was the living invoca-
tion expressed by all:
Don Bosco Ritorna
Fra I Giavani Ancar!
[Don Bosco now returns
Once again midst his boys!]
A French past pupil spent two nights traveling by train, took part in
the celebrations and then went back to his office on Monday morning. This
is the note he wrote to the Editor of the Salesian Bulletin: "I would have
gladly given ten years of my life not to miss the enthusiastic demonstrations
in honor of Don Bosco."

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Qlqupter 17
Some Particular Celebrations
in Honor of Don Bosco the Saint
After the triumphant exaltation in Turin, there were a few lesser, some
even very small, celebrations in honor of Don Bosco. However, they have
a certain importance and significance. Moreover, there were still a few
events missing and needed to complete the full glorification of the Saint.
These events were to be later connected directly or indirectly with Rome.
This chapter will provide a brief account of these events.
St. John Bosco was commemorated officially by the civil authorities
in Turin, as well as in Rome. The setting, the officially designated speakers
and the people who participated in these commemorations beautifully
responded to the demands of the occasion.
Near the Stura River, on the outskirts of the City of Turin, a stately
building was soon to be inaugurated as a training center for Salesian lay
brothers who would head the Salesian schools in missionary territories.
The school had been erected thanks to the generosity of Senator, Count
Eugene Rebaudengo. He did this in memory of his beloved wife, whom,
a short while before, God had called to Himself to reward her for her Chris-
tian virtues. The inauguration of this important Missionary school offered
an ideal opportunity to render an official civil tribute to Don Bosco. The
highest authorities and leading citizens of Turin graciously accepted Father
Peter Ricaldone' s invitation, and assembled at the site on the afternoon of
April 10, 1934. Pennants, banners and tri- colored flags waved in the breeze
between the standards and coats of arms of the different countries where
Don Bosco's sons were active. The distinguished guests were greeted by
the joyous musical strains of a band as they took their seats on the platform
reserved for them in the spacious playground. A long, wide terrace above
the portico was crowded with hundreds of pupils from Salesian schools
and oratories, from municipal schools and other educational institutions.
Princess Mary-Adelaide of Savoy-Genoa was the last to arrive, with her
escort, Count De Vecchi, the Ambassador to the Holy See. She took her
place between their Eminences, Cardinals Fossati and Hlond. The hymn

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"Suonate Campane" I"Bells ring forth"] was sung, and then a tailor's appren-
tice, a missionary aspirant, read a speech welcoming Her Highness, the
Cardinals, the Representatives of the Italian Government, and the other
authorities present. At the end of this he presented to Her Highness a beau-
tiful basket, filled with roses and violets. The official speaker then made
his appearance on the platform. He was Peter Fedele, Senator, Professor
of Medieval and Modem History at the University of Rome, Secretary of
State, and former Minister of National Education.
He began by praising the century-old city of Turin and the people of
Piedmont. He spoke of the trials which the city of the Savoy dynasty had
to confront through the centuries, ofthe flourishing number of saintly people
sent to Turin by Divine Providence to heal the woes which tormented our
land, adding that this was the predicament of the city of Turin at the begin-
ning of the 19th century. This was the predicament of that Turin which saw
and loved Fr. Cafasso, Fr. Cottolengo and Don Bosco. Then he had every-
one relive one of the more meaningful encounters between Cottolengo and
Don Bosco. It was Father Cottolengo who had a clear, brilliant vision of
Don Bosco's work, and of the humble priest from Becchi, and on that occa-
sion this is what Father Cottolengo, the Founder of the Little House of
Divine Providence, told Don Bosco, "You should get yourself a cassock
of stronger fabric, Don Bosco. Then the boys will be able to get hold of
it without tearing it apart, for the time will come when there will be many
who will grab hold of it." An extraordinary prophecy, indeed! "For Don
Bosco' s mission," the speaker went on, "was to give a Christian, civil educa-
tion to the young people of Italy, and to spread the faith of Christ, and
together with it the name of Italy, all over the world."
The speaker then began to examine the marvelous undertakings crea-
ted by the Saint. With words filled with deep emotion, he described Don
Bosco' s first spiritual conquest-a poor young orphan whom he had gath-
ered from the streets on the feast of the Immaculate Conception in 1841.
Then he turned to the year 1846, when the Founder of the Salesian Society
had assembled around himself more than four hundred boys and had a
house of his own. Then, in 1875, when ten Salesian Missionaries were
leaving for Argentina, Don Bosco said: "Who knows whether this may tum
out to be like a small grain of millet, or like a mustard seed which is about
to grow and be ready to do much good?" What actually happened far
surpassed this prediction, for when he closed his eyes at last in 1888, the
little grain of mustard seed had blossomed prodigiously and today the

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branches of that huge tree which had grown from it are stretched all over
the earth. "In the presence of such miraculous achievements," the speaker
said, "we mortals bow our head, overawed, and perceive the Finger of God
in this undertaking."
He then illustrated the charitable Italian Saint's work on behalf ofYouth.
"With an extraordinary lucidity and with intuition, Don Bosco realized
what the great statesman who today steers our national ship of state is trying
to accomplish; I mean that he understood that the fundamental problem of
a nation's vitality is, substantially, a problem of education."
Following this, he repeated things which De Vecchi had mentioned
before at the Capitol Hill, when he had magnified the figure of Don Bosco
against the background ofthe Italian Risorgimento, and he went on to speak
of the Saint's educational system. He recalled how during his term of office
as Minister of National Education, he had included in the curriculum for
Teachers' Training Schools the holy priest's educational system among
other classic works of pedagogy. This system was inspired solely by prac-
tical, pedagogical and lived experience and not by written treatises on
pedagogy. Don Bosco had rebelled against the intellectual pedanticism of
a most sterile age, and had fought far more energetically and effectively
than most modem pedagogues for the Christian freedom of Youth, and for
a happier atmosphere in the school. He had a very updated notion about
freedom of Youth: They should not be held in check by a rigid and austere
discipline, for while this approach may force people to keep silent and
display an external good behavior, it does not encourage, but rather slows
down and stifles, the development of the child's spiritual faculties. "Give
youngsters all the freedom they want. Let them run around, jump and be
noisy to their heart's content," he wrote. "There should be no barriers
between the teachers and the pupils, but only love. Do you want your pupils
to love you? Then love them," Don Bosco said. This is the principle that
inflames his educational system: Love!
The speaker then recalled the meeting between Pope Pius XI and Don
Bosco, and made a rapid resume of the exaltation of the Saint on Easter
Sunday in Rome: "Don Bosco is the universal glory of the Church, but as
the Pope said, he particularly is the glory of Italy. Fascism, which honors
the God of a prayerful people, the God of Saints and of heroes, bows
reverently and devotedly in front of Don Bosco who was honored trium-
phantly at the Capitol Hill in the presence of the Head of the Government,
following his glorification in Saint Peter's Basilica. People of Turin, raise
your banners and your pennants before the glass bier which contains the

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mortal remains of this great Piedmontese Saint, who turned Turin into the
capital of a great empire which spreads to the ends of the earth, to which
Don Bosco has extended the kingdom of Christ and made known the name
of Italy."
The lively attention of his audience, their repeated outbursts of applause,
and the final ovation gave eloquent proof that the speaker had been able
to gain the approval of his listeners. When Father Ricaldone stood up to
thank the guests who had honored Don Bosco with their presence, every-
one applauded as a sign of general acceptance. Then the inauguration cere-
mony began. Escorted by the two Cardinals and followed by the authorities,
the Princess walked to the foot of the staircase and cut the symbolic ribbon.
Then she toured the House, inspecting the new premises while two different
bands took turns to perform a varied musical program. After the invited
guests had departed, the doors were opened for the crowd which had waited
outside. Visitors continued to tour the new school until nightfall.
Two days later, the Oratory celebrated its dies natalis [birthday], for
it had been on Easter, April 12, 1846, that Don Bosco had taken possession
of the humble shed lent to him by Pinardi. The anniversary was marked
by four different ceremonies. The first of these was a tribute rendered to
the Saint by pupils of elementary schools and by the little boys who were
members of the National "Balilla" Organization. At nine o'clock in the
morning more than ten thousand little boys and girls marched into Piazza
Maria Ausiliatrice, led by their schoolteachers and principals, to attend
Mass which a Military Bishop, Bishop Bartolomasi, celebrated in the open.
The Rector Major, his Chapter, the Secretary of State Fedele with his wife,
the Superintendent of Schools, and the Federal Fascist Secretary, with other
authorities, were all present. Four boys from Assam, wearing picturesque
native dress, stood at the foot of the altar. The Prefect Apostolic, Mathias,
had accompanied them first to Rome, then to Turin. During the course of
the Mass, the Bishop explained the reason for the celebration, and told them
of Don Bosco's great love for children. Eight children made their first
Communion. It was truly a touching sight to watch the good behavior of
that vast, devout congregation of little ones. During the Mass they sang
liturgical hymns and hymns in praise of Don Bosco, led by Maestro
Pachner who had taught these hymns in the various schools of the city
especially for this occasion. After the Mass, the authorities and the children
entered the church; they filed past the altar of the Saint where they were
given a pious souvenir to remember the occasion.

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Immediately after this ceremony, the authorities entered the playground
of Don Bosco's first festive Oratory, where another crowd, this time of
boys only, and a sizeable number ofCooperators were assembled. The corner-
stone of the immense new building which now stands open to the Oratory
activities was about to be blessed and put into its place. Accompanied by
Bishop Bartolomasi and several Salesian Prelates, Cardinal Hlond took his
place on the platform, and the entertainment began with the hymn, "Suonate,
Campane" ["Bells, ring forth"] which was sung by the whole assembly.
Then came a talk, read by a boy from the Oratory. After this, the military
Bishop praised Don Bosco' s undertakings and his educational system. Among
other things, he said: "Don Bosco's system today has been understood at
last. Our national educational system should be not purely physical, mili-
tary, and patriotic, but also a moral and religious educational system. I detect
the vibrant spirit of Don Bosco in all the numbers of this magnificent pro-
gram. And if I am an active collaborator of the Fascist Government, I have
also been a cooperator of Don Bosco for many years, and I am very proud
to be one." His Eminence then recited the ritual prayers for the blessing
of the cornerstone. A parchment on which many people had signed their
names, several medals, and some coins had been put inside a crystal phial
which was then sealed and inserted into a crevice in the stone, which was
lowered into position. Father Peter Ricaldone brought the ceremony to an
end with a few appropriate words.
In the sixteenth volume of these Biographic Memoirs, we reported that
in 1883, the future Pope Pius XI had visited the Oratory and had enjoyed
for two days the amiable hospitality of Don Bosco. The dining room where
the young Lombard priest Achille Ratti had sat at table with the Saint, was
built, exactly on the spot, where the famous shed rented to Don Bosco by
Pinardi, had once stood. Eighty-eight years before, it had been converted
into a small chapel. Today it has been transformed into the pretty little
church, which is named after its original owner.
On this day, full of memories, Father Peter Ricaldone wanted to have
inaugurated a marble tablet with an inscription commemorating the his-
torical visit. The Salesian Cardinal removed the veil from the commemo-
rative marble tablet in the presence of the Salesian Superiors, the boarders,
and a little group of chosen friends. The austere, yet paternal, features of
Pope Pius XI had been carved in profile form by Fait, the sculptor, at the
top of the inscription, which was read aloud by Father Fidelis Giraudi. The
inscription was in a narrative form and went thus: "His Holiness Pope Pius
XI, in the year 1883, as a young priest, sat here at the dining table of St.

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John Bosco, and while the body received nourishment, his spirit was
nourished and delighted by the words and example of the man whom, the
Vicar of Christ was, one day, to his own great, personal joy, to elevate to
the honor of the Altar, declaring him Blessed on June 2, 1929, and later
glorifying him with the hajo of the Saints on April 1, 1934, Easter Sunday."
Later, under the portico, Father Peter Ricaldone spoke from the little
pulpit placed exactly where Don Bosco had given the goodnight talk so
many times to all the boarders of the House. He recalled those far-off days,
and explained the significance of the ceremony performed, enumerating all
the benefits which had been extended to the Salesian Family by Popes Pius
IX, Leo XIII, Pius X, Benedict XV, and Pius XI. He dwelt especially on
the benefits rendered to the Holy Founder and on all the honors which had
been showered on the Salesian Family by Don Bosco's Pope, Pius XI. He
recalled the words uttered by Don Bosco as he was about to die, the words
which were bequeathed to his sons as a legacy: Devotion, affection and
fidelity to the Vicar of Jesus Christ. Then he read aloud a telegram he had
just received as an answer to his own message sent the previous Sunday
to the Pope, after Don Bosco' s glorification. In this telegram Cardinal
Pacelli had written on behalf of the Pope: "Received with fatherly delight
the filial homage of the great Salesian Family, rightly jubilant for devout
solemn festivities in honor of Saint John Bosco, Founder. The supreme
Pontiff gladly sends implored blessing, joyously wishes that from the
supreme exaltation of outstanding benefactor of Youth new glories may
come upon the well-deserving Institute, new growth for activity at the
service of Christian Family."
The tribute to the Pope was barely ended when the bells of the Basilica
of Mary Help of Christians again summoned the faithful to another cele-
bration equally solemn: this was the laying of the cornerstone for the altar
of St. John Bosco. The church, which in those days had been crowded to
capacity with so many ecclesiastical, civil and military authorities, as well
as with such a vast crowd of ordinary people, also on this occasion was
filled with a variety of people, from those of the humble working class to
the highest monarchs. An immense tripod, swathed in crimson velvet, with
a large cube of marble in which a cross was carved on each of its sides,
and hanging from its center on a chain, stood in St. Peters' chapel where
the glass casket with the body of the Saint was exposed. After the choir
had sung the Magnificat, Colli, Bishop of Parma, who had been born in
the same part of Piedmont as the Saint himself, ascended the pulpit and
delivered an allocution which was broadcast over the loudspeakers to the

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crowd outside in the playgrounds and in the square. The speech was so
ingeniously contrived and eloquently expressed that it deserves to be
reported in its entirety here:
"Blessed by God, kissed by the affection of his sons and by the
gratitude of Italy, of the Church and of the entire world, this stone descends
now into the earth; this stone is a milestone on the high road of the empire
and of the triumphs of Don Bosco. This stone is the crowning of a great
past and the beginning of a greater future. This stone now grafts the altar
of Don Bosco to the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians and widens its
extension, just as Don Bosco always leaned on Mary Help of Christians
and always widened her devotion.
"This stone descends into the depths of the earth so that what is built
upon it may become even greater than it is, just as Don Bosco worked in
depth, and for this reason his undertakings had a worldwide extension. This
stone now descends into the earth searching for the living rock, which is
Peter, which is Christ, just as the Salesian undertaking has always searched
to be united with Christ and with Peter.
"Ninety years ago, on this very spot, Mary appeared to Don Bosco in
a prophetic dream, and presented to him the future Basilica, saying: 'Here
is my House! From here, my Glory!' Today Mary repeats the same words
and tells the new Saint 'Here, also, is your house! From here, also your
glory.'
"One day Don Bosco said: 'Every stone in this basilica represents a
grace.' This stone, which is to be lowered into the ground today, is an entire
poem of graces, a lyrical ode of gratitude and love.
"This stone sings for Don Bosco of the smile of Mary, of the love of
five great Popes, of the devotion of thousands of Bishops, of the admiration
of men who were leaders of nations.
"This stone sings on behalf of Don Bosco of the innocence of innu-
merable children, of the enthusiastic and efficacious purity of millions of
youths, of the busy hum of countless workshops, of the prayers of num-
berless hearts, of the hopes of many families, of the comfort of so many
afflicted people, of the resignation of so many lepers, of the civilization of
entire peoples, of the gratitude of so many nations, of the apostolic suf-
fering of so many Missionaries. This stone sings of the splendor of two
Roman Cardinals, of the sacrifice of two martyrs, of the burgeoning of so
many Saints.
"The altar and the enlarged Basilica will also sing of the increasing
glory of the Saint who in our present age was the most Italian, and also

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the most international, of all the Saints. It will sing of this Saint who
possessed the staunch Piedmontese character, the Italian genius, and a
universal heart, a heart open to all. It will sing of a Saint whose life was
a miracle and a novel, in whose work the supernatural seemed natural. It
will sing of a Saint who recreated in the XIX century the Fioretti of St.
Francis of Assisi, and had intuitions about the future, who knew about all
kinds of daring actions and knew about all kinds of prudent actions, who
was a priest with Cabinet of ministers and thought of himself as an Italian
at the altar of God. It will sing of a Saint who knew no other kind of politics
than the politics of the Pater Noster [Our Father] and whose advice princes
sought after eagerly. Don Bosco was as tender as a mother, yet with the
invincible will of a general; he knew how to make himself loved in order
to be obeyed; he educated people by using religion, he persuaded them by
using reason; he taught his boys to have faith in God, to love their country,
to look up to Heaven and have the earth bud forth fruits, to sing while
praying, and to pray while they worked. This stone will sing of a Saint who
taught them both in school and at play, in church and in the theater, who
taught them with sports just as he taught them by making an examination
of conscience, he accustomed them to blend the Exercise for a Happy
Death in the chapel with the joyous festivities in the dining room. He
founded a Society, which is at one and the same time the most cheerful,
and yet the most open to make sacrifices. This stone will sing of a Saint
who as the Gospel says, was simple among the simple, and yet a giant
among giants; who published the first collection of our Classics and the
most popular booklets with equal conviction; who wrote a Sacred History
of the chosen people, as well as a History ofItaly (our own land) with the
same warm heart; who was an orphan who later became a father to many
orphans; who was without bread and yet he gave bread to all; who was once
a child who had no home, yet he gave a home to all children; who had
struggled hard to find someone to teach him, but founded schools without
end; who was a craftsman and trained whole generations of craftsmen; who
was a Saint and, like a new edition of St. Benedict, baptized not only the
ancient barbarians of the Pampas, but many new civilized barbarians living
in Europe also.
"This altar, this Basilica, will keep on singing throughout the ages the
glory of the Saint who was not so much a man of his day as a man who
did much for his day; who understood the things which his generation
needed and did not share its faults; who intuitively perceived the dangers
that threatened it and forestalled the evil consequences which might have

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come upon it. At the dawn of labor problems, he guarded in his schools,
where students and apprentices lived together, the sacred fire of coopera-
tion among classes. In the age of the Rights of Man, he taught the love of
God, and though he felt the heartbeat of Italy's springtime and endured the
anxious moments of Italy's independence, he always had faith in the
supremacy of its spirit. This altar, this Basilica, will sing of the Saint who
ever since the night of September 20, 1870, has cherished in his heart the
hopes for the conciliation between Church and State, and from the year
1871, he initiated negotiations to achieve this end, together with John
Lanza. These initial negotiations were crowned with success, thanks to the
great titanic genius of a great Duce.
"Throughout the ages, this altar and this Basilica will sing of the great-
ness of this Saint 'for whom Italy could never do enough,' as Francesco
Crispi once said. They will sing of this Saint of whom Pius XI declared
himself to be 'an enthusiastic admirer.' They will sing of this Saint for whom
our national government ordered an official Roman triumph at the Capitol
Hill for the first time in history, immediately after his glorification in the
Catholic Vatican.
"Let then this altar rise!
''New Salesian Apostles tamquam Lapides Vivi superaedi.ficabuntur
[as living stones, will be built thereon] (1 Pet 11:5).
"From this altar which for the sons of Don Bosco shall be their father's
own hearth, they will draw that flame of faith and of civilization which,
as ambassadors of Christ and members of perhaps the most authentic
League of Nations, they will continue to bring to the ends of the earth.
"Let this new altar rise and let this lovely Basilica expand!
"Our tormented modem Society hungers more for God than for bread,
has greater need of Saints than warriors; needs a greater amount of prayer
sites like this, of schools offaith and sacrifice, of hospitals where souls may
be healed, and has a greater need of beacons of the light of charity.
"On the day that Don Bosco was canonized, one Italian newspaper
wrote, 'at the very moment in which the new Saint was proclaimed in St.
Peter's, men were seen embracing one another, and bursting into tears.'
"Such an embrace and such tears are at once a symptom and an omen.
"It is the dream that Don Bosco had at Becchi, that continues to come
true; there are other wild animals who change into lambs; it's Don Bosco's
system of Education, it's Don Bosco's spirit crossing the boundaries of
Salesian Houses and reaching out to all parts of the world, in order to renew,

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in a more conspicuous style, the same conquests, the same triumphs: the
conquest of virtue, the triumph of Christ.
"May God graciously grant us this, and may St. John Bosco obtain it
for us!
"It is on this prayer that we lay the foundations of this altar!"
During the musical execution of Father Pagella's Exultate Deo, the
more important guests signed their names on the parchment, which was
then inserted in the glass phial in the usual way, after Father Fidelis Giraudi
had read what was written on it. After the ritual blessing by Cardinal
Maurilius Fossati and the first spadeful of lime, the block of marble was
lowered very slowly, to wait until the pious generosity of the faithful
rendered possible the execution of the building plans which included not
only the memorial altar, but also the expansion and redecoration of the
whole church. A Te Deum of thanksgiving and the Benediction of the
Blessed Sacrament brought the festivities to their official end.
But the end of the festivities did not mean that all the manifestations
organized in Turin during the month of April were finished.
A century had passed ever since John Bosco, a student at Chieri High
School, had changed his domicile and lived at the "Pianta Caffe." While
attending the fourth and fifth high school grades he lived at his cafe,
enduring the hardships of life, dividing his time between his studies and
the menial tasks of waiter-busboy. He waited on tables in the restaurant;
he slept in a little cubbyhole beneath the stairs, and at times he went hungry.
But such sacrifices did not frighten him, because he was able to go to
school, buy the books he needed, and care for his basic needs. While he
lived there, his schoolmates came to know of the hardships he endured.
They supplied him, as best they could, from time to time with food to help
eke out his meager fare, for they felt great compassion for him. A certain
Joseph Blanchard, son of a lady who owned a fruit store, helped John more
frequently than the others did, and with his mother's permission, gave him
things to help still his hunger. That cafe still stands at the time ofthis writing
and the son of Joseph Blanchard is still alive. Don Bosco showed his
unceasing gratitude to him, until the end of his life.1 Thus it seemed proper
to have something to immortalize the memory of Don Bosco's lodging in
a place which witnessed his heroic virtues. Mr. and Mrs. Caredda took care
of the expenses, and a memorial stone was placed on the fa~ade of that
house. The Archpriest of Chieri blessed it on April 22, 1934, in the presence
1 Biographical Memoirs, Vol. 1, p. 223.

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of the Oratory Superiors, and Father Peter Ricaldone explained to the
assembled townsfolk the meaning of the inscription. This is how it read:
"In this house - in the year 1834 - compelled by the hardships of life -
the student John Bosco - became a humble waiter - in the cafe of Joseph
Pianta. Here, his schoolmate, Joseph Blanchard - who admired his virtue
- felt compassion for his misery. - John Bosco, a priest, and founder of
the Salesian Society - was deeply grateful to him. - In the year of his
canonization - and on the one hundredth anniversary of this great act of
charity - the Salesian Cooperators-and the admirers of St. John Bosco
- dedicated this marble stone - as an example for the young people of
Chieri. - April 22, 1934."
From Chieri, the Superiors, Salesians, and Cooperators hastened to the
hamlet of Becchi, where a goodly number of mothers of priests and of
clerics had gathered. The Diocesan Council of the Women of Catholic
Action had accompanied them on pilgrimage to the humble house where
Don Bosco was born, to commemorate the woman who first had formed
the heart of the man who was destined to light up the heavens, as a radiant
star ofpriestly holiness. In praising Mamma Margaret, the speaker said that
it was proper for all Christian mothers to glorify her, because even though
she herself was illiterate, she nevertheless had known her catechism by
heart and taught it to her children not only by word, by also by example,
thus playing a major role in the formation of a Saint. A memorial stone,
with Mamma Margaret's likeness on it, had been set in the rough wall, and
was unveiled and blessed by Father Peter Ricaldone.
Erminia Vanzaghi-Brunetti, a schoolteacher from Ttµin, climbed the
rickety wooden steps attached to the wall and leading to the room where
Don Bosco was born. Often they had creaked beneath his mother's feet.
The schoolteacher turned around at the head of the stairs, and addressed
a few appropriate words to the mothers who were standing below, as well
as to other mothers who were physically far off. Her surroundings inspired
her to recall, very clearly and very colorfully, a few of the scenes and
conversations which the drab walls seemed to have kept the memory and
to be echoing. Many of the women present were so overcome that they gave
way to tears, nor were the women the only persons who wept!
In the meantime, the so-called triduums had begun. These triduums
may be celebrated within a year from the date of the Saint's canonization,
everywhere in the world, after a previous request by the Ordinaries to the
Sacred Congregation of Rites. For several consecutive months, the various

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language editions of the Salesian Bulletin carried reports of the more impor-
tant of these triduums. One could say that there was no parish in Italy and
no diocese in the Catholic World that did not have such celebrations. The
popular fervor which accompanied such celebrations was simply incred-
ible, as were the spiritual fruits drawn from them. Sermons, lectures, speeches
by well-qualified people, interventions by Bishops and civil authorities,
articles in newspapers and magazines, special publications, all brought about
various forms of Christian renewal, with hundreds and thousands of people
receiving Holy Communion. The echo of Don Bosco' s name shook even
the intellectual world, to the point that we saw the emergence of famous
writers from variom, nations engaged in knowing and making known the
man and his undertakings. Biographies were printed even in Bohemian and
Arabic.
Milan, the capital ofLombardy, distinguished itself among all the cities
in Italy. We will forego a series of isolated manifestations and single out
only two very important instances.
The evening of April 25, 1934, the larger hall of the Conservatory of
Milan was crowded as it had never been before, with the elite of Milan.
They had come to hear Don Bosco commemorated by Charles Delcroix,
the famed disabled war hero, a parliamentary deputy and President of the
National Association of Disabled Servicemen. Delcroix had lost both eyes
and both forearms during World War 1, but he had never lost his keen
intelligence and his most noble spirit. He exalted Don Bosco with a great
affection that seemed to emanate from his entire being, and spoke with a
persuasive eloquence which captivated an audience which included the
Count of Turin, the major authorities, and several Bishops.
The fact that he was a Salesian past pupil prompted him to begin his
address in a way that produced a fantastic effect. All Italy listened to his
speech over the radio, and the boys and Superiors of the Oratory of Turin
were moved to wild enthusiasm by it. This extraordinary document should
not be overlooked or lost. Here it is:
"I am here first of all to express my gratitude!
"As a small boy, I attended the old Salesian Oratory on Via Sant'Andrea
in Leghorn, and for a long time. Later, I went to the boarding school of
the Immaculate Conception in Florence. This gives my words the value of
a witness and the meaning of a thanksgiving.
"It was at that time that in my heart a seed was sown which was to
bear fruit later on, when the gusting winds of death came and there was
an unexpected darkness in my path. If I did not fall at that time, if I did

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not become lost, it is because a point had remained unshaken, a footprint
to follow, had remained clear within me.
"Nothing would have been able to justify and remove my sadness, if
faith had not come back with the face of my childhood, when, without even
understanding, I had asked for that strength that I would need in adversity.
Now, if I ask myself from what depths certain voices have been able to
reach me, I have the impression of hearing once again the shouts and songs
of the days when we all played and prayed with the same innocence, with
the same happiness. It was there, at that school, that I had learned the truths
which would be forgotten but never erased in the violence of youth.
"Springtime and Youth are dangerous seasons during which the out-
come of games and of life are decided. It is for this reason that the Saint,
who had many avenues open to his pious work and was already to be found
with prisoners and the sick, chose the young who were most in need,
because they were at risk more than any others. He felt that his work was
necessary, and that it would be more fruitful among children who are heirs
to the future.
"At any rate, that had been his real vocation from the very beginning,
and if for a time he had thought about becoming a Franciscan, it was
because he loved poverty, which in any case he would have encountered
among the people. As a matter of fact, the first indication of what the
Salesian Oratory would be like can be seen in the gatherings which little
John organized in the meadow in front of his home on Sundays, to keep
his little friends entertained with all kinds of games in order to invite them
to say their prayers and sing hymns; that early initiative contained all the
basic principles and all the types of works now associated with his name
all over the world. In that child who repeated the sermons he had heard
in church and performed the stunts at the fair, we can discover the basic
features and attitudes of Don Bosco.
"Really, Don Bosco remained a child at heart up to the end of his life,
and knew how to be the companion of all of his pupils. This is the basic
element, not to say the actual secret, which underlies Don Bosco's suc-
cessful work.
"The human soul is really much simpler than the unhealthy curiosity
and the tendentious fantasies that biased analysts would have us believe.
The requirements of the human soul remain perennially the same, and
anyone who is willing to try to understand them and to respond to them
without trying to complicate and provoke them, is sure to penetrate it. Don
Bosco knew this, and was able to reach the soul by following the road of

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feelings and elementary needs. His system of education was so simple that
he always declared not to possess one, nor did he leave any text on it, unlike
many other theorists and founders of schools who never were able to touch
the heart of youth.
"His activity can be summed up in these principles: entertain in order
to instruct; assist in order to educate; awaken curiosity in order to get
attention; respond to the needs of this life in order to keep in mind the
promises of eternal life; by all means possible keep the mind serene so as
to let the heart be unburdened, because first and foremost, youth must be
seasoned with gladness. Don Bosco knew that to be happy is more the
condition than the way to serve God. As a student in Chieri, he had founded
the 'Societa dell'Allegria' [The Cheerfulness Club] for he knew that in
young people, sadness is almost invariably the offspring of evil thoughts.
He wanted cheerfulness to reign supreme in his school, for he knew that
cheerfulness gives rest to the mind and disposes it to study; it unburdens
the heart and prepares it for prayer, because it is from happiness that
gratitude is born and gratitude is the beginning of love, much like hope is
the substance of Faith.
"Don Bosco demonstrated that teachers should not only teach and
supervise, but also should share the life of their young students, take part
in their games and in their conversations, because this makes their task
much easier and it does not undermine their prestige. Anyone who chances
to enter one of Don Bosco' s Houses at recreation time will be astonished
to find that Religious and boys recreate together, and their joy is full
because no one is excluded from it.
"A few days ago, while walking down a quiet street in Rome, I was
thinking about Don Bosco and his work, when I was suddenly struck by
the sound of merry voices. I thought I was able to recognize the noise to
be heard all along the streets next to the old Oratory of St. Andrew's. I was
passing near a garden hemmed in between houses, and soon I realized that
it was not children perched all the way to the top of those trees, but birds,
together saluting the sun as it was setting. In this, I found a suitable
comparison to express the happiness of the children of the working classes
in the Houses built for them by Don Bosco.
"It was precisely the boisterous merriment of his boys that brought
Don Bosco so many difficulties when he tried to find a place for his first
Oratory, because the noise of a feast cannot be endured by those who have
no part in it. And so he was forced to move from the Convitto of St. Francis
to St. Philomena's Hospital, from St. Martin's Chapel on the banks of the

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Dora River to St. Peter in Chains Church, next to the cemetery, and then
for a time he was forced to pitch his mystic tent in the middle of a meadow,
before he found a shed at Valdocco where he could say, as in a dream: 'Here
is my House; from here, my Glory.'
"Turin was celebrating Easter Sunday in 1846, and the young priest
was dreaming about the glory due to God. But in his humility, he could
never have imagined that on Easter in 1934, in Rome he would be raised
among the Saints, and the glass casket carrying his remains would be
followed by a retinue of princes and people through the same streets of the
city where he walked in the midst of his boys, misunderstood by many and
mocked by others.
"This was due to the fact that people considered his main idea to be
a mere fixation; they even had doubts about his sanity, although he never
did anything that gave grounds for their suspicion. In vain would anyone
try to find one of those moments of mystic violence, one of those gestures
of divine folly, that are found and are spoken of in the lives of other Saints.
With Don Bosco, everything is simple and plain. Love motivated him
without undue upset, and Faith enlightened him without consuming him-
but his love was inexhaustible and his Faith, absolute. For this kind of faith
nothing is easier than what is impossible, nothing is more natural than what
is marvelous, and his whole life was a continuous series of dreams come
true. He prayed in his churches and lived in his Houses before he ever built
them, because he had seen them in his dreams, and he kept on seeing them,
or rather, he kept on believing in them.
"He possessed and practiced to a heroic degree all the virtues, yet he
never made display of it, and almost seemed to be unaware of himself. He
knew that life is a serious matter, and that it also can be very great, without
any need to over-emphasize it. He met with adversity, he experienced
bitterness, and he endured attempts on his life, yet he never played the
victim or put on the airs of a hero. When he was in danger, his protector
was a nondescript gray dog that saved him; in his life everything had to
remain simple and credible.
"Every age has brought forth the Saints it needed. That is why saints
who were mystics were followed by saints who were warriors; contempla-
tive and praying Saints were followed by Saints who performed penance,
who had ecstasies; intellectual Saints were followed by dynamic Saints.
Don Bosco was a Saint of a life lived in all its multiple and actual aspects,

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in all its needs. Don Bosco is the Saint of our times, silent in his suffering,
obscure in his greatness; he is the Saint of our people, staunch in his faith,
serene in his works.
"Don Bosco began to build his Churches and Houses as soon as he
acquired the land on which to build, because he came from a farmer's stock
and knew that the harvest is in the hands of Divine Providence and what
needs to be done is sowing the seed, that is, performing an act of faith. Don
Bosco performed the most extraordinary things, but with simplicity; with
the same unaffected manner he tended the victims of the cholera epidemic
at the Lazaretto of St. Donatus and went to preach against heretics at the
church in Viarigi. With the same familiarity he dealt with prisoners and
spoke to the boys. He was in everything a son of the sort of people for
whom war was an event much like all others, and who even today speak
as though it had happened elsewhere, farther away. He is the son of that
type of people who lacked everything, who owned just the piece of land
to fall on and he always acted as though he had victory right in the palm
of his hand. Intuitiveness, practicality, industriousness, shrewdness are
Don Bosco's traits and they are the characteristic traits of our kind of
people, country people. He had the peasant gusto for community festivities
which used to be called 'sagre' and which provided what people needed
to enjoy the things of this world and to remind them about God. Most of
all, he had learned from his sort of people a respect for time, time which
is sacred, which cannot be wasted without committing a sin. This is why
he was able to do so much that it seems beyond belief they could be
accomplished in one lifetime.
"During the process of his Canonization, the Church examined some
of his miracles related to heatings which had surpassed any human expla-
nation and beyond all hope. But the living and the lasting miracles are his
undertakings which have spread all over the world so rapidly and with such
fruitfulness that they cannot be explained satisfactorily by saying it was
due just to good luck not as the reward of virtue. The Hand of God is here.
Next to the lowly shed where the Bishop was obliged to remove his miter
so that he might stand upright, Don Bosco raised a temple for a multitude
of faithful. Almost in the twinkling of an eye, the humble House where his
first boys had found shelter became a city of learning, a city of prayer,
whence his sons went forth and spread all over the world. Today his
Churches number by the hundreds, his Houses by the thousands, and all
of them were built by the sheer force of his will, enlightened by his faith.

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The reason for this is that this Saint lives on and still wields his influence
just as before, even more than before, and rarely is there found a Congre-
gation which has kept intact the spirit and the Mission of its Founder so
faithfully, and which advances with such success.
"It surely is filled with meaning and admonishment, the very fact that
this miracle came about and that it is renewed daily in an age which has
evolved so much that it feels ashamed ofits faith, so refined as to be delighted
by superstition, in an age which is afraid ofeverything, yet believes in nothing.
Obviously there are powers unknown to us and values which have been
forgotten, if a poor priest was able to create this mighty undertaking, which
is not made up only of buildings, but of souls that are inspired. And it is
this growth of vocations, this renewal of vocations and of acts of dedica-
tion, which make us pause.
"Our Saint invites us to meditate, not only of the times in which he
lived and labored, but also of the land where he was born, because he was
born in a farmhouse of Castelnuovo d' Asti, a classic land, part of that
Piedmont which is sacred to modem history as the cradle of Kings, as the
garrison of those weapons which had to fulfill a vow, and prove true the
destinies of a united nation.
"Just as the Rinascimento was essentially a Tuscan phenomenon, the
Risorgimento was essentially a Piedmontese phenomenon. Naturally, both
of these movements led inevitably to Rome. At a given moment, within
the confines of the ancient Sardinian kingdom, the men who were needed,
the men who were destined for that undertaking, were born: the King
subjected to humiliation and the victorious King, the Thinker and the Man
of Action, the Politician and the Soldier-all of them were found together,
in that place where the Poet had preceded them. In the same region, at the
same time, but on another dimension, the figures of three priests stepped
forward. Naturally these priestly figures were unknown and forgotten up
to our days. Two of them are Saints, the third Blessed.
"We must stress the fact that all three were priests, because the greater
Religious Orders, even when they are active in their ministry among people,
are devoted solely to their faith, whereas the Mission of the Clergy is both
a religious and a civil one, because at one and the same time the Clergy
represents the militia within the Church, and an authority within the State.
All three priests were engaged in social work, which in a way had political
significance, because it contributed, very effectively, albeit indirectly, to
the success of the Risorgimento.

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"These three priests were Canon Benedict Cottolengo, the Servant of
the Poor Father Joseph Cafasso, a Teacher of Priests, and Don Bosco, the
Apostle of Youth.
"The first of these three priests gave shelter to the unfortunate and the
derelict, and taught us that no effort should be omitted, no soul should be
regarded as lost, either to this world or to Heaven. He taught us that people
are to be loved, even when their bodies are covered with repugnant sores,
and they are to be tended to even when they are most degraded.
"The second priest devoted himself to training the Clergy, in whose
ranks certain Jansenist and Jacobin trends had appeared. At that time, false
doctrines under the names of rigorism and regalism had filtered into our
country from France, which threatened the truth of our faith and the
discipline of the Church in that land which had always been exposed,
throughout its history, to the threat of heresy, no less than to the threat of
violence from invading armies. In the conflict between Church and State
it was imperative that Religion should not be victimized.
"Don Bosco came last; he can be considered the pupil of Cottolengo
and Cafasso and, under certain aspects, he embodied in himself their
individual missions and virtues, pursuing a particular course of action, so
special that we do not know whether we should admire more its religious
value or its social value.
"Gioberti had clearly indicated the three most pressing needs of our
time: The Ascendancy of Thought; National Autonomy; Emancipation of
the Masses. The Saint devoted himself to the emancipation of the masses
whose needs and sufferings were known to him. In particular, Don Bosco
felt irresistibly drawn to children, for he knew that the future fruits of Faith
and of the Nation must be founded on Youth. Even when he admitted
academic students to his Houses, after he had admitted the young artisans,
he never abandoned the masses to which, after all, the impoverished middle
class of both rural and urban areas belongs. That Don Bosco's action was
successful can be proven by the countless children of the working classes,
who, had it not been for Don Bosco, would have remained ignorant and
forgotten at a time when the State had neither the will nor the adequate
means to fulfill its mission.
"Don Bosco planned to create Italians, when Italy had not yet been
created. That is why, after his exaltation as a Saint, he was honored as a
citizen on the sacred Hill of Rome, the Capitol.

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"Yet it would be wrong to regard him just as another patriotic priest.
True enough, on the eve of 1848 Don Bosco put his boys through their
military drills, and ordered prayers in his Oratories so that the King might
be safe, and emerge victorious. But Don Bosco was completely caught up
in his mission, and he should be regarded above all as a Servant of the
Church, as a Minister of God.
"He had no choice in the conflict between Church and State; yet he
was one of those who did not contribute to worsen the dispute; rather, he
did his best to lessen it when tension was very serious, acting as an honest
intermediary between the Curia and the Government.
"The Conflict between Church and State was inevitable, because our
unity had to be brought about in Rome; but it had to be endured as
something necessary, and not used as a pretext for attacking that faith which
to the people constituted the very foundation ofthe unity which was sought.
Today, when time has stilled human passions and has re-established our
sense of values, we must confess that the whole issue was embittered far
more than it should have been on both sides, and we can also say that it
was not the more talented people who spared no effort to render definitive
a necessary, yet surmountable, dissent. In fact, it was surmounted as soon
as the nation became aware of its strength and destiny.
"Far more than one could ever believe, Don Bosco contributed to
evade what seemed irreparable, and he not only desired the Conciliation,
but he predicted it with such divinely inspired foresight that everything
leads us to proclaim it a prophecy.
"Ever since Dante, outstanding men have condemned the proximate
establishment of the two powers, but they all have deplored conflict between
them. History shows us that, even though it was divided, our country was great
and powerful, and that faith was alive and sincere, as long as its religious
and civil life blended in fruitful harmony. Then there rose together magni-
ficent palaces and the majestic cathedrals which gave such splendor to our
cities, which, thanks to the richness of their industries and flourishing com-
merce, were powerful enough to create a State and courageous enough to
dream of an empire.
"When Faith is obscured and Rome becomes decadent, then our slavery
and misery begin. The last three centuries were the saddest and darkest
periods of our history, mainly because the Church, besieged in its truth and
threatened in its structure, turned inward refraining from all those under-
takings to which previously it had given thrust and means. On the other
hand, the sense of the divine, equally essential for the life of individuals

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and the politics of the State, was lost. Gioberti was right when he pointed
out that this progressive, reciprocal estrangement between politics and reli-
gion was the first cause of our weakness and of our sickness. The protest,
which took the form of a revolt against Rome, could have come only from
a people that had never been conquered by the sword, and who had been
subjected to the faith of Rome for too short a time. But we cannot banish
from our existence that Religion which is Catholic, inasmuch as it is Roman,
without at the same time denying and wounding ourselves. Therefore, the
men who pretended to ignore it were no less wrong than those who tried
to suppress it.
"The Duce has accomplished many great things. He has rescued the
nation from its obscurity; he has redeemed the land from the marshes; he
has founded institutions and built new cities; he has extended our dominion
and rebuilt our ancient power. But to this date, his greatest accomplish-
ment, his most superlative deed, has been the Conciliation. This is the finest
accomplishment of our era, the ripe fruit of both these victories, because
the Conciliation assumed in the people the conscience that the War had
given back to them, and in the State, the authority which Fascism has given
back to it. Thus in Rome harmony has been re-established, which will cast
its radiance all over the world and is destined to revolve about the two fires
which have given it power and splendor.
"Don Bosco prepared and announced this event. At the present time
we cannot foresee its far-reaching consequences, but from the visible signs
that we see, we believe that it marks the beginning of a new era. It was
a lady from Siena who brought the Pope back to Rome; it was a countryman
from the region ofAsti who acted as go- between in the negotiation between
the Vatican and the government of the King who once again had entered
into Rome: this is a sign that our people are profoundly aware of the
necessity of this peace.
"We, the people, exalt the Saints and the heroes alike, because we are
aware that our power stems both from the will which accomplishes, and
the faith which inspires, from the virtue which redeems, and from the
genius that creates.
"Perhaps never before was the proclamation of a Saint greeted with
so much joy, because never before was our conscience so serene, nor was
the link between the divine and the human element in life and in History
so clearly evident.
"Today, the Church, relieved of all other cares and more than ever
transcending time, is solely dedicated to the mission which is hers. Today

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the Nation, which has overcome all divisions and calmed all disturbances,
has found peace, and confidently moves forward along its road. That is why
all eyes from all sides look to Rome, for She is the dispenser of all truth,
the Mistress of Life itself."
Immediately after Don Bosco's civil commemoration, a triduum, begin-
ning on the 26th of April, 1934, took place in Milan. By order of Cardinal
Schuster, eminent speakers of the Milanese Clergy, among whom there were
many Bishops and Salesian priests, preached the triduum simultaneously
in seventy churches. This, even as it led or led back a great crowd of men
and women to the Sacraments, paved the way for a great glorification on
Sunday, April 29, 1934, when a relic of the Saint was carried in procession.
Even in Milan rain intruded itselfinto the program, yet not even the Milanese
was dismayed by the weather. The magnificent procession, in which more
than twenty thousand people took part, marched unperturbed through the
streets of the city, while a reverent crowd stood watching all the way up
to the Cathedral where the Archbishop was waiting, seated on his throne,
together with the Cathedral Chapter and the authorities. The singing of the
Ambrosian Hymn, the Te Deum, marked the end of the glorious event. Simi-
lar festivities, perhaps not as solemn, yet equal in the number of people
from all walks of life participating, were observed in many more large Italian
cities, and also abroad. The various editions of the Bulletin gave sufficient
accounts of them to assist future historians of the Church, who may be
called upon to relate her vicissitudes during these tormented and troubled
times.
The wave of piety, of spiritual reflection and good works that had been
sparked by the canonization of Don Bosco, created worldwide desire to see
his cult extended throughout the universal Church. Petitions to this effect
reached the Holy Father even from distant dioceses, so that a Positio was
compiled and discussed during a regular session of the Sacred Congre-
gation of Rites on January 14, 1935. They came to a favorable decision
which found its result in the Decree dated March 25, 1936,2 "It was a great
joy for all Christians that the Supreme Pontiff, Pope Pius XI, has decreed
the supreme honors of the Saints to Blessed John Bosco during the nine-
teenth centenary anniversary of our Holy Redemption. And immediately,
not only the Salesian Society but also many dioceses, began to honor him
in a special manner as the Father of Youth. Since devotion to him was
increasing day by day, countless Bishops appealed to His Holiness, Pope
2 Latin Text in App. Doc. 19.

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Pius XI, and humbly and prayerfully implored him to extend the cult of
such a great person, who had done so much for the Catholic Cause, to the
universal Church for the sake of promoting greater fruits of sanctity among
the faithful in general and among young people in particular. His Holiness
consulted the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation of Rites, here under-
signed, and in the course of an audience granted on March 25, 1936, he
graciously deigned to satisfy the wishes of many Cardinals, Archbishops,
and Bishops of the Holy Roman Church with a Decree declaring that the
feast of St. John Bosco, Confessor not Pope, was to be celebrated by the
universal Church, with double minor rite, according to the Office and Mass
attached to the Decree, on January 31st, the feast of St. Peter Nolasco,
confessor, being transferred to January 28th."
Another event contributed to enhance Don Bosco' s glory. That same
day, January 14th, Cardinals and Officers of the Sacred Congregation of
Rites authorized the introduction of Father Michael Rua' s Cause of Beati-
fication and Canonization. If the glory of the son redounds to the honor
of the father, what can we say of the glory reflected on Don Bosco by this
peerless son of his, whom he had molded and chosen as his successor, and
who had striven all his life to emulate Don Bosco's virtues? If there had
been any dearth of proofs to corroborate the saintliness of Don Bosco, the
sanctity of Father Michael Rua would be tantamount to a thousand proofs
in support of it.
Many were the ways in which Don Bosco' s exaltation was perpetuated
besides the numerous transitory religious and civil tributes rendered to him.
Streets and schools were named after him in large capital cites, as well as
in small towns and villages. Statues of him were unveiled and monumental
churches were dedicated to him. The most important of these churches was
built in Paris.
One monument which above all we cannot fail to mention is the
monument which placed Don Bosco among the founders, both men and
women, of religious orders and congregations in the Basilica of Saint Peter.
There is an interesting story mentioned by Father Michael Rua in reference
to this event. The first time the Saint visited Saint Peter's with Father
Michael Rua was on February 26, 1858. After he had remained for a few
moments in silent, almost ecstatic, contemplation of the spectacle offered
by the magnificent Basilica, what struck Don Bosco most was the row of
marble statues representing the founders of religious families. And behold,
here we now are at the moment when he, too, is to be received into one

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of these niches which were empty and awaiting an occupant. The statue
of Don Bosco did so in January 1936.
This monument is a colossal marble group created by Canonica: the
main figure is four meters, eighty centimeters high, without taking into
account the pedestal on which it is mounted, which is one meter and seven
centimeters high. Don Bosco is shown with his right arm extended in a
noble gesture, pointing out the Pope's altar to two youngsters, whom he
held with his left arm in a warm and fatherly embrace. The two youngsters
are the present St. Dominic Savio and Venerable Zefferino Namuncura from
Patagonia. The artistic concept and its expression are a consummate piece
of art. Canonica was the sculptor, known worldwide, and a member of the
Italian Academy of Art. In his work Canonica was not fettered by a pre-
occupation for a photographic likeness. He disregarded the traditional poses
shown in the paintings and statues ofDon Bosco. He captured and expressed
in marble Don Bosco' s spiritual greatness, with a creation which belongs
to an art well worthy of its name. Joseph De Mori left us a description of
this statue. The following are some of his reflections.3
"From the extensive range of pictorial representation of Don Bosco,
Canonica has captured a faithful synthesis, which expresses both Don
Bosco's likeness and his character. The statue speaks to us 'of the Saint's
meditative spirit, of his intellectual power, of the foresight of a Saint, of
an apostle, which, joined to the paternal smile of his strong mouth, per-
fectly suits his character, full of charity and love.' His attitude is 'eloquent,
spontaneous, yet composed and austere, too.' "
The critical reviewer gives this picture of him: "With his left arm he
retains under his protection two youngsters who personify his Mission, both
spiritually and historically. The taller of the two, Dominic Savio, was his
favorite pupil, and he is soon to follow the Saint in the honor of the Altars.
The smaller boy is a young Patagonian, Zefferino Namuncura, son of the
great Cachique who was converted, together with his whole tribe, by Car-
dinal Cagliero. Don Bosco and the Salesians adopted this youngster to indi-
cate that Don Bosco' s apostolic work for youth does not know boundaries
of continents or prejudices of race. With his right hand Saint John Bosco
points to Saint Peter's hallowed tomb, and it looks as though the two young-
sters are hanging onto his lips to listen to that profession of fidelity to the
Roman Pontiff which is the inviolate badge worn by Don Bosco and now
immortalized in marble. While faithfully adhering to history, this pose does
3 L'Avvenire d'ltalia, January 9, 1936.

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not relegate Don Bosco's statue just to its niche as a purely decorative ele-
ment, but it forms an organic part of the temple, associating it with the
hallowed shrine of the Vatican crypt. The marble group as a whole displays
with its essential lines a harmonious symmetry, forming an almost musical
chord like that of a triad in its gradual rise from the figure of the Indian
boy to that of Savio and then to the figure of the Saint, all three blending
most admirably in the clean-cut majesty of the Protagonist. Thus 'the real
and the ideal' complement each other and satisfactorily respond to our human
need, a contemporary need, and reveal to us the Saint, as in a heavenly
vision."
In order to avoid the error of which, unfortunately, some have been
guilty, we should understand that neither Savio nor the Indian boy repre-
sents his native land, but where Dominic Savio stands for the youth of the
entire civilized world educated by Don Bosco and his disciples, Zefferino
Namuncura stands for the youth being redeemed by the Missionaries of
Don Bosco in lands which have not yet been warmed by the sun of
Christianity and civilization. Ifa son of the Pampas was chosen to represent
this second category, it was solely because Don Bosco sent his first Mis-
sionaries to preach the Gospel to the Indian tribes of Patagonia, then still
savage tribes, as everyone knows.
The monument was inaugurated on January 31st. As a rule, these
ceremonies are very simple, but on this occasion the Basilica looked as
though an important and solemn function was to be celebrated. The area
in front of the Conjession altar was filled with outstanding laymen and
Ecclesiastics, while ten thousand boys, standing in five separate rows, filled
the rest of the central nave: they represented the schools of the city, by order
of the Ministry for Education. Under the arcades at both sides there were
large student groups from several Salesian schools of Rome and the Cas-
telli Romani, while a mixed throng of the faithful found a place in the lateral
naves. All in all, once again, as l'Osservatore Romano correctly observed,
"it was a new affirmation of faith and devotion, which allowed everyone
to relive the unforgettable Easter of 1934."
Cardinal Pacelli, the Archpriest of the Basilica, entered the church at
half-past eleven a.m. Under the direction of Father Antolisei, one hundred
eighty choir singers from four different Salesian schools sang a Hymn which
he had a composed in honor of the Supreme Pontiff, and then Ghedini' s
Acclamationes for Pius XI. After this, the attendants of St. Peter's, the so-called
'Sampietrini,' with the consent of the Cardinal, and at a sign given by the
Master of Ceremonies, removed the drape from in front of the niche. An

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enthusiastic outburst of cheers from more than twenty thousand people hailed
the appearance of the statue of the beloved Saint. When the lively mani-
festation was finished, the Procurator General, Father Tomasetti, read an
address on behalf of the Rector Major who was absent, thus commemo-
rating the event.
''Most Reverend Eminence:
At this moment, when St. John Bosco takes his place among
the great Founders of religious Orders, who from time to time have
come to increase the splendor of the greatest temple of Christianity
and are now immortalized in marble, there are three things for which
the Salesians are very happy today.
"They rejoice because the solemn task of inaugurating this
monument to their beloved Father with the blessing of Heaven,
was assigned to Your Eminence, whom they venerate as the Cardi-
nal Protector of their Congregation.
"It is also a source of ineffable joy, the fact that the Holy Father
has benignly consented to assign to Don Bosco such a conspicuous
place in this Basilica. The eyes of the faithful spectator will tum to
Don Bosco's niche, after gazing on two other statures. As a matter
of fact, beneath Don Bosco' s statue is the majestic statue of the
Prince of the Apostles, and between this and the statue ofDon Bosco
we can see the radiant statue of the angelic Pope Pius IX ... St.
Peter who was made known to the people by Don Bosco with an
ardent faith and an edifying candor; and Pius IX, who loved the
Saint with paternal affection, and was filially loved by him in return.
"Additionally, there is a third cause for rejoicing: the fact that
the sculptor, with incomparable artistic mastery, has depicted Don
Bosco in a pose ideally expressing the nature of his apostolate. As
he holds close with warm affection the youngsters, one representing
civilized countries, and the other depicting Missionary lands, he
points to the altar of the Confession and seems to encourage them
to advance in that direction, saying: 'My sons, there lies salvation,
because Peter is there and ubi Petrus ibi Ecclesia [where Peter is,
there, too, is the Church]'. During times hostile to the Papacy, Don
Bosco remained faithful to the Vicar of Jesus Christ, and singled
him out as the Master, the Guide, and Benefactor of Mankind.
"Concerning what we have just witnessed, I cannot but add
a remark. Throughout his whole life, Don Bosco cherished a great

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dream: for the welfare of souls and the glory of his native country,
he cherished hopes for a happy reunion between the Kingdom of
Italy and the Holy Apostolic See. By the will of the Man who guides
the destiny of our country, His Excellency, the Minister of State for
National Education, has given orders that the young students of
Rome should gather here, to represent all Italian Youth, as well as
foreign Youth, and to render their homage to the Saintly Educator.
"Heartfelt thanks to His Eminence Cardinal Salotti and the
distinguished representatives of all nations to the Holy See for
having wanted to make this ceremony more solemn by their pres-
ence, as though to underscore the universality of Don Bosco' s
mission in the world.
"Special thanks, also, to the religious Congregations, which,
with brotherly solidarity, have shared in the joy of the humble
Salesian Congregation.
"May the blessing of Your Eminence seal the reasons we have
to rejoice, and obtain from Heaven that the recollection of this
solemn event may live in perpetuity in the hearts of all who are
present here, and be handed down to future generations for their
benefit."
His Eminence then put on his stole and blessed the statues as required
by the rite. The short ceremony then ended with other beautiful hymns. But
the finest hymn of all was sung by those thousands of young hearts when
they saw their beloved Father exalted in his glory. The ceremony concluded
so quickly that by the time the bells of Saint Peter's rang the Angelus, it
was all finished.
We can rightly say that the niche assigned to Don Bosco by the Pope
has a place of honor. No other founder has such an eminent place in Saint
Peter's. Don Bosco's statue is above the statue of St. Peter and is con-
spicuous atop the mosaic medallion of Pius IX. Father Francis Tomasetti
explained very clearly what this meant. Anyone who was alive during the
last few years of Don Bosco' s life would be unable to look at that statue
of his without remembering the dream he'd had and which he had related
to them in the days of their youth.
He dreamed of being precisely in that niche, without knowing how he
had gotten there. Frightened, he looked around to seek help, but the vaults
of that great temple were steeped in silence. Then he shouted, and in his
anxiety, he awoke. Who knows how many times, while visiting Saint Peter's,

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he had approached the bronze statue of the Holy Apostle, and following
the usual procedure he had kissed its foot by bowing down so that the fore-
head might touch it, as a sign of his humble, submissive allegiance to the
Vicar of Jesus Christ! At that time no one, least of all Don Bosco himself,
could have imagined what mysterious meaning was hidden behind the veil
of that strange dream.

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Q!qapttr 18
The Fiftieth Anniversary of Don Bosco's Death
The fiftieth anniversary ofDon Bosco's death was marked by a number
of important celebrations. Since they were so important, we thought best
to conclude this volume, which deals with the glorification of the Servant
of God, with a chapter singling out the most significant and praiseworthy
of these celebrations. First of all, we shall describe some of the manifes-
tations related to the Pope who was pleased to be greeted as "Don Bosco's
Pope."
Pius XI had already thought about the fiftieth anniversary of Don
Bosco's death from the beginning of the year when he dictated a personal,
private letter. A Piedmontese Jesuit, Peter Boetto, had been appointed to
the Sacred College in December 1935, and was about to celebrate the
fiftieth anniversary of his religious life. On that happy occasion the Pope
wrote a letter to the Prelate. In it the Pope happily recalled that the begin-
ning of his religious life coincided with the date in which solemn honors
were rendered to the remains of Don Bosco who had died the previous day,
in the capital of his own region. The Pope felt that he could see in such
coincidence something of a stirring power, which had certainly given
greater strength to the new religious magnanimous resolutions, which from
that time on never faded away. Again, at the beginning of February, Pius
XI thought about the sons of Don Bosco because of a particular circum-
stance, which in itself would not have brought them up to his attention, if
he had not known about it and decided to take part in it, in some way. On
the feast of Candlemas, as the day of Our Lady's Purification is ordinarily
called it is customary for the Procurators General of religious Congrega-
tions to call together on the Holy Father, and offer him a candle. In 1938
the Best of Candles had been offered by the Sovereign Order of Malta. The
Pope decided to give exactly that candle to the Salesian Society in memory,
as l'Osservatore Romano wrote on February 11, 1938: "of the fiftieth
anniversary of the happy death of their Saintly Founder with whom the
Supreme Pontiff had an unforgettable personal relationship in the early
years of his priesthood, a relationship exalted in the acts of the supreme
magisterium which ended with the grandiose ceremonies of the beatifi-
cation and canonization."

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This token of such a high esteem will remain in the history of this
fiftieth anniversary of Don Bosco's death as a proof of the affection Pope
Pius XI had for Don Bosco and all his undertakings. A Salesian, Father
George Castellino, who was studying at the Biblical Institute of Rome, was
about to defend the thesis for his doctorate in Holy Scripture. It is the cus-
tom that such defense should take place before a scholarly audience, and
not only before the Examining Board. The Pope arranged for the candidate
to defend his thesis at Castelgandolfo, in his presence, the morning of May
19, 1938, and a considerable number oflearned scholars were invited. After
the Examining Board had awarded its mark, a cum laude approval, the Holy
Father pronounced a lofty address on the importance of Biblical studies.
Among the reasons which made him happy and which were generated by
the presence of such a scholarly audience, was the fact that the Pope had
found an occasion to bring back the pleasant, beautiful and always ben-
eficial memories of St. John Bosco, and to show once again how greatly
he esteemed, appreciated, and respected the Saint's great family, and those
beloved sons of his, the Salesians, and to tell them and everyone that the
Pope was glad to perform with one of them an act which would crown with
merits, high merits such as the merits related to Sacred Scripture.
The Pope expressed the same affectionate sentiments on several occa-
sions, too, during public audiences, during the year 1938. On May 28, 1938,
when, together with other groups, some fifty apprentices from the Salesian
School "Pius XI" called on him, he made the following reference to the
name by which their school was known: "We hope that this name is a good
omen for you all, because besides being the name of an old man, it is also
the name of a Pope, and of the Vicar of Jesus Christ. It is superfluous to
tell you that We especially Bless you, and your school which is so dear to
Us. But you have reminded Us about it with your affectionate words that
expressed a filial, and Christian Sentiment. For you are good sons of Holy
Mother Church, as well as sons of that great friend of God, that great
Champion of the Faith, our beloved St. John Bosco. Don Bosco is ours and
yours we could well say, because if Don Bosco is a Father to you in Christ,
We can rightly say that We first were Don Bosco's friend in the Lord and
that he later on has become Father, Father of the Highest Glory, of the Glory
of the Saints for which God allowed US to cooperate even though only as
His humble instrument.''
A month later, on June 28, 1938, twenty-four newly ordained Salesian
priests attended a public audience. The Pope welcomed each group present
at that audience with special words. When he came to the Salesian group

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he congratulated them, because they were calling on him "Under the great,
glorious and promising name of St. John Bosco." Later, on August 5th, at
an audience granted to the novices of the Daughters of Mary Help of
Christians from a nearby novitiate, the Pope told them that they had "come
to see the Pope under the name of Mary Help of Christians," a name
particularly dear to him because it reminded him of his "great friend" Don
Bosco.
Even at an audience granted to the royal Carabinieri who had been
detailed as regular duty detail and honor guard at the papal summer resi-
dence, the Pope made his voice heard in praise of Don Bosco. The Pope
granted that audience on October 21, 1938, a week before his departure
from his summer residence. At the end of his address the Pope said: "We
have thought about giving you a little souvenir of this audience, to make
you understand how agreeable it has been to Us. We already gave a small
medal to your Colonel, and We are going to give some to your officers. This
medal suits the occasion, since it bears the likeness of good old St. Martin
who, when he died, was a saintly Bishop, but he had been also a brave and
noble soldier. But now We shall give you another medal, one which is also
suitable to the occasion since, even though the likeness on it is not that of
a military man, nevertheless, it is the likeness of a true soldier of work,
a soldier of duty, the likeness of one who has become a Saint because of
it: Don Bosco, and he stands for whatever is most Italian and most encour-
aging."
During a similar audience granted on the 25th of October 1938, the
Pope repeated the same words in praise of St. John Bosco. This time, the
audience was for fifty metropolitan guards who had been active on duty
details, especially during the recent pilgrimages with a lot of people. They
were escorted by the Deputy Chief of Police, and their officers. At the end
of his speech His Holiness bade the Deputy Chief of Police approach him,
and handed him a silver medal, with the likeness of St. Martin, and assigned
him the task of distributing other medals with the likeness of Don Bosco
to all the other guards. As he did this, he recalled the privilege granted him
to elevate Don Bosco to the honor of the altars, and said: "Don Bosco can
easily be called the soldier of Charity not only in Italy, but all over the
world, because his Salesians bear his name and spirit and do good to all."
The most outstanding event connected with the fiftieth anniversary of
Don Bosco' s death, was the dedication of an altar in his honor in the Basilica
of Mary Help of Christians, and the ensuing expansion, and restoration of
the entire church. No more becoming monument could ever have been raised

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
in honor of the Saintly Founder. In reference to his monumental altar, this
is what Father Albert Caviglia1 wrote: "In the history of every great Con-
gregation of the Church there comes a day when a monument is raised to
the sacred remains of the Saint who founded it, to express all his greatness,
and the devotion which the whole world feels for him. We need only think
of St. Francis of Assisi, of St. Dominic, of St. Ignatius, of St. Paul of the
Cross. For Don Bosco, this day of glory occurred within the first fifty years
after his passing to the glory of Heaven. Thanks to the Italian art, and the
devotion of his sons, this sacred monument, an altar, has been done in a
way that it expresses a word which is destined to be carried on for centuries
to come."
The harmony of the church is not broken up by the magnificence of
the monument, which is located in the right arm of the spacious transept
closed in by St. Peter's altar, at which Don Bosco had habitually said Mass.
Ceradini, the architect, a professor at the Albertine Academy, has created
a work of art blended with religious piety. The eye of the beholder focuses
immediately on the glass bier containing the relics of the Saint, placed
beneath the sacred icon at a slightly elevated level above the altar. This
crystal-made urn, set in a spacious vault, allows the venerated remains
clothed with priestly vestments to be seen from all sides. We say that it can
be seen from all sides because there is a small passage way with two domes
which separates the body ofthe altar from the wall ofthe chapel, and access
to it is possible through two marble doors and handsome railings of gilded
bronze. Father Caviglia wrote that in this chapel ''everything conspires to
create an atmosphere of peaceful recollection conducive to a more intimate
and trustworthy type of prayer as if one were to talk to the Saint, one on
one, having him right in front of his eyes.'' Thus the purpose of having the
hallowed remains exposed in such a way to have a proper veneration was
achieved in the most natural way that one could have ever imagined.
We shall not speak of the icon because the present one is only tempo-
rary. But the altar as a whole, from the altar steps to the elevated structure,
richly made of precious marble and bronze, presents a rich gamut of details
designed with geniality, spread out with artistic taste and fine workman-
ship. There is a sanctuary paved with polychrome marble, right in front of
the altar, and is sealed off by a most beautiful, marble altar rail. On either
side of the altar proper, there are two marble bases, which support two big
1 L'Osservatore Romano, June 3, 1938.

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marble statures, of Faith, and Charity. The marble walls are handsomely
decorated, and there are three stained glass windows which represent three
solemn moments of the life and glory of the Saint. The lunette above the
Saint shows the nine-year-old boy to whom his future Mission is entrusted
in a dream. On the left, the window shows Pius IX in the Vatican, in the
act of handing Don Bosco the newly approved rules of the Salesian Society.
The window at the right pictures Pius XI as he proclaims Don Bosco a Saint
in St. Peter's Basilica. The rapt expression on the face of all who stop in
front of the altar to admire is proof enough that art has fully reached its
most noble goal, which was rightly to be expected of it.
A monument of such value has to be compatible with its surroundings,
that is with the entire Basilica; otherwise it would have only called to mind
the Horatian image of the cloth of gorgeous purple sewn onto a threadbare
garment. Consequently not only did the entire church have to be better
decorated, but also enlarged, so that both in size, and appearance it might
look like a real shrine of worldwide renown.
The cult of Don Bosco, quite popular and widespread together with the
cult of Mary Help of Christians were already increasing the number of
faithful visiting the Basilica. As it was to be expected, these cults would
have drawn in the future countless numbers of people. This brought back
to our memory the words that the Saint had written in his first circular letter,
when, in 1864, he had launched a nationwide appeal to all Italy, asking
people to help build the Sacred Heart Church in Rome. He wrote: "A
Catholic feels much comfort when he happens to see a great crowd of
people gathered together in the House of God. A Catholic would be pro-
foundly grieved if the faithful who hasten to attend the sacred services were
to find out that they cannot do so, because there is no room for them in
the church. This is exactly what I am sadly forced to see for myself." Don
Bosco' s last two successors, Fathers Philip Rinaldi and Peter Ricaldone,
experienced the same sadness when, on many occasions, they realized that
the church was now much too small to respond in a proper manner to the
piety of the faithful and foresaw that the Church would have become even
more inadequate with the passing of time. Hence they resolved, boldly, to
undertake the task of expanding the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians.
The problem to increase the capacity of a building, which is already
complete in every one of its parts, is a tough one in itself. But it was made
tougher by the limited amount of space available for the expansion, and
by the desire not to change the inner transept exactly as Don Bosco had

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
accepted it from the architect Spezia, and also by the intention not to exclude
from the sacred functions the seven hundred student boarders who used the
Basilica every day. Yet all these difficulties were so brilliantly overcome
that today not only do the alterations brought about by the expansion work,
which lasted three years blend harmoniously with the remainder of the origi-
nal church, but they even seem to have been a part of it from the beginning.
Indeed, those who had known the church as it was formerly were aston-
ished when they saw it again after it had been enlarged, and then could not
believe that the interior they saw before them was not the one they had
always known, despite all that they had read in the Bulletin; this is no mean
tribute to the architect who had succeeded in enlarging the church without
distorting the original structural configuration.
We shall try to convey some idea of how this had been done.2 Two big
sacristies, which had been built in the outer walls of the old sanctuary, were
demolished; so was a choir, or apses located behind the original main altar,
but invisible to the rest of the church. This operation provided space for
two big side chapels, a spacious corridor, and an extension of the church,
with a new sacristy. The two new side chapels opening into the immense
new sanctuary with wide colonnades are big enough to accommodate all
the students and artisans of the House. Above them there were two hand-
some tiers of choir lofts, which overlooked the sanctuary, and each of these
was big enough to accommodate three hundred persons on more solemn
religious functions. The corridor, which commences near the fa~ade, runs
the whole length of the church up to the sacristy, turning behind the main
altar, and goes around to the other chapel. There are six beautiful altars built
in the section behind the main altar, next to the sacristy. Chapels, choir lofts
and balcony receive light form huge stained and storied glass windows, and
a subdued light enters the sanctuary from the new dome through sixteen
holes, like eyes, in the stained glass windows.
Naturally, the main altar with its large painting of Mary Help of Chris-
tians, and a magnificent tabernacle for the Holy Eucharist, constitutes the
center of the shrine. Anyone who enters the hallowed precincts looks toward
it instinctively, just as those who kneel in prayer do. Nineteen different
kinds of marble were used for the whole of this altar and icon: all around
it and in front of it there is a rich polychrome of marble, which dresses the
walls from the floor to the cornices. In double order forty-eight marble
2 For the technical description of the enlargements of the Basilica and of Don Bosco's altar, see two articles
by Father Albert Caviglia, first published in l'Osservatore Romano on June 3rd, and again on June 7-8, 1938, and
later rewritten as one single article by the author, for the August issue of the Bulletin.

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capitals and cornices support the balconies, and divide the chapels from
the corridor. All this section, which constitutes the head of the transept,
offers the vision of a whole structure so rich in variety, yet so harmonious
in appearance that the connoisseurs are filled with admiration, while the
ordinary people remain enchanted before it.
The beauty of the interior was going to further be enhanced when the
decorations would be completed in this section, in 1941 and then extended
up to the end of the church, and not one inch of the surface remain
unoccupied. The modest decorations completed three years after the death
of Don Bosco, were all 'condemned' to disappear, save for the paintings
inside the dome. These have been skillfully freed from the crusted layers
which, for several reasons, had darkened the figures they represented, and
are now restored to their original brilliance, allowing us to enjoy Rollini's
good, artistic mastery once again. This is how the Basilica of Mary Help
of Christians would receive all its due decor.
The new arrangement of the choir loft was also to contribute consid-
erably to this new decor. The choir loft, which cluttered the entire back
wall, and limited the light coming from the rose window and two other
windows, was removed with an inestimable advantage for aesthetics and
visibility. The organ was now placed in the open balcony on the Gospel
side of the altar. Experience had taught that the acoustic effects were going
to be greatly improved thereby, and reach every comer of the church.
But meanwhile the men responsible for the impressive undertaking,
have reason to rejoice when they see visitors to the church give their highest
approval for the work already completed, and hurriedly voice their desire
to see everything completed. These men are the Rector Major, Father Peter
Ricaldone, who wanted the work to be done; the Economer General Father
Fidelis Giraudi, the animating power for the whole work; and the Salesian
architect, Julius Valotti, who proved himself to be a faithful interpreter of
the original intent, in the execution of the work. Their satisfaction was all
the greater, because not only does everyone admire what they have accom-
plished, but likewise approves the way in which the money, donated by all
kinds of contributors, has been invested. Indeed the devotees of Mary Help
of Christians, and of St. John Bosco, proved no less generous in their
donations than the people who helped the project of the Saint at the time
when the church was first built.
In order to gauge the full merit of these men responsible for this
impressive achievement, one should know of two separate problems with
which they were obliged to cope, and which were rightly described as

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tragic. At the very beginning when the apse was first being demolished,
an unexpected discovery created panic in all those who witnessed it: the
entire structure was almost standing on no support at all. When the founda-
tions were built in 1864, the workmen came upon wooden alluvial soil, and
had to build strong support pillars.3 When with the passing of time the
water drained away, the supporting wooden pillars had gradually rotted,
and consequently the walls had been standing perched precariously on the
edge of wide empty holes, barely supported by the edges. Nor was this the
only problem. At the same time, it was found that the original material used
in the building was of poor quality: the concrete, not being properly
reinforced lacked the adequate cohesion and had shown dangerous cracks
in the inner walls, so that the structure was gradually breaking down. To
avert a catastrophe, cement was injected into every crevice of the masonry,
starting from the foundations. This work lasted two years and it was done
by a firm specialized in this type of work, injecting cement until all the
holes were filled, and the parts of the walls which had been crumbling, were
solidified. They used six thousand tons of cement.
The second disappointing news broke out when the first phase of the
work was almost completed, and the date ofthe inauguration was approaching.
Cracks were seen close to the capitals of the pillars, which supported the
greater part of the weight of the newly enlarged church. This was the result
of either an excessive load, or of inadequate cohesion, such as one may
find quite frequently in brilliantly colored marble. It is easy to guess how
upset the Economer General and the architect were! They were obliged to
provide, without any delay, columns of a more compact marble and then
with infinite and difficult precautionary measures substitute the first ones.
This problem was rendered more acute by the need to keep it a secret, since
if made public could have caused an outbreak of mistrust among the public
with an un-called for alarm. In this predicament, the advice given by two
engineers quite famous in the field of construction was quite helpful. Thanks
to that advice and the industriousness of the men supervising the work, not
only was the danger removed in a timely and effective way, but also the
new marble columns further enhanced the overall beauty ofthe work. When
everything was done, the two famous experts were asked to state their fees,
but both replied that they not only felt well-satisfied, but honored, too, because
they had been allowed to render a service to Don Bosco. These engineers
were Professors Anthony Giberti of Turin, and Arthur Danusso of Milan.
3 Biographic Memoirs, Vol. VII, p. 651.

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The rhythm of work was stepped up considerably during the final
weeks. The work was almost finished on that section which needed to be
readied for the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of Don Bosco' s death,
set for June 9, 1938, which coincided with the seventieth anniversary of
the church's dedication.
The faithful who daily attended the church's functions sighed with
relief when they saw that the scaffolding that had encumbered the Basilica
for three years was being removed little by little, and also when later they
saw the barriers that had sealed off Don Bosco' s chapel were removed and
placed alongside the walls which had still to be decorated. They were even
more relieved when the workmen began to knockdown the artificial wall
behind the likewise temporary main altar: it had stretched upward from the
floor to the dome, like an immense backdrop, to hide from the gaze of the
public the feverish activity of the workmen in the area which extends from
the present altar rails to the sacristy. This thin partition, however, could not
deaden the sounds of hammering which boomed throughout the church,
disturbing the prayers of the faithful, and the church's priestly ministry. At
last, it seemed as though the mystic peace of former times was about to
be restored to the beloved shrine.
The total evacuation of all the encumbrances did not come about until
June 8, 1938; but the doors remained closed for two days, to permit the final
touches to be put where needed, and to allow the reverent transfer of the
Saint's mortal remains from the old glass urn to the new one. The school
boarders and the dayboys who attended the Oratory were the first ones to
see the newly restored Basilica when they assembled, the evening of June
8, 1938 to say their evening prayers. As they entered one after the other,
they seemed to fall under the spell of the enchanting sight that met their
eyes. The multicolored hues of the marble at both altars, of the surrounding
walls, of the chapels, and of the balconies, gleamed in the radiant lights.
The two domes which were illuminated by concealed lighting, seemed
suffused with radiant light. After Father Peter Ricaldone's 'good night'
talk, they all filed in orderly fashion toward the altar of Don Bosco, and
passing through the corridor, they gathered quite close around the blessed
relics to venerate them.
The busy coming and going of the faithful began to animate the church
at dawn on June 9, 1938, while the final preparations for a very original
function were in progress. Almost all the Salesian Bishops of Italy had
come to Turin for the occasion. Cardinal Hlond, and the Salesian Bishop
of Shillong, Assam, Bishop Ferrando, were present, too. While performing

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the interesting details of the ritual, these consecrated the altars, at the same
time. The consecration of the main altar was done by the Cardinal Arch-
bishop, and the consecration of Don Bosco' s altar was reserved for the
Salesian Cardinal; both consecrations were extraordinarily solemn. Arch-
bishop Guerra consecrated another lovely altar on which we have not yet
reported. This altar was in the crypt, underneath the sacristy, on the same
side of the church as Don Bosco' s altar. It was dedicated to St. Peter. That
altar, which had been built by Don Bosco as a proof of his devotion towards
the Prince of Apostles, and where he usually said Mass, could not have
disappeared from the Basilica! Five more altars (a sixth one, that ofBlessed
Cafasso, could only be blessed), were likewise consecrated by the Bishops
Emanuel, Ferrando, Rotolo, Coppa, and Olivares, and were dedicated
respectively to St. Joseph Cottolengo, to the Crucifixion, to the three
Saintly Martyrs of the Theban legion and from Turin, to St. Pius V and the
Guardian Angel. After this rite the officiating Bishops said Mass at the altar
they had consecrated.
For four days, pontifical Masses and sermons by Bishops continued
with the participation of huge congregations of faithful some of whom had
come as pilgrims from far-away places. On the 10th of June 1938 the church
was reserved solely for the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians who had
generously, and zealously, contributed to provide the money and means for
the great undertaking. The church was crowded with their young girl
pupils, and the girls who attended their oratories, and it echoed with their
exquisite musical performances. The 11th day of June 1938 was a day of
thanksgiving to God, and the Virgin Help of Christians for the abundant
graces, which had been showered on the Society for seventy years. Then,
on Sunday, the 12th of June 1938, preceded by a devout vigil, the festivities
came to an end. The flow of communicants who approached the altar at
several altars, continued without interruption from midnight until eleven
o'clock in the morning. People flooded the church and the Oratory from
dawn to dusk, streaming in and out of Don Bosco's small rooms.
The procession in honor of Mary Help of Christians had been post-
poned until the 12th of June. This procession followed a long route: it was
a devout and picturesque one and it unwound between two compact rows
of spectators. How many touching manifestations of faith, and piety were
seen when the statue of Our Lady was passing by! Besides the six Bishops
already mentioned, the venerated statue of the Blessed Mother was pre-
ceded by the Apostolic Nuncio from Bolivia, Bishop Lunardi, by two more
Salesian Bishops: Sosa, from San Miguel in Venezuela, and Munerati from

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Volterra, and by the Piedmontese Bishops: Saracco of Fossano; Rosso of
Cuneo; Imberti of Aosta; Grassi of Alba; Ugliengo of Susa; and Del Ponte
of Acqui. Last of all walked the two Cardinals.
The Archbishop imparted the blessing with the Blessed Sacrament, to
an immense throng gathered both inside, and outside the Basilica, and until
late at night the crowd milled around the neighborhood. Then the lights
illuminating the fac;ade, and the larger cupola, were extinguished, and only
the crown of tiny lamps remained, to form the halo of the Virgin who
seemed to greet the departing throng from her lofty position, following
them with her maternal eyes, as they wended their way homeward.
The celebrations of that fiftieth anniversary will likewise remain memo-
rable in the annals of the Shrine, because they marked the beginning of a
new phase: the age of pilgrimages. Pilgrims were coming from everywhere,
and with an extraordinary frequency. Very often, more than a thousand pil-
grims would arrive from one single locality. At times the groups were accom-
panied by Bishops, even by Cardinals. It became increasingly necessary
to try to coordinate these collective group movements in such a way that
the pilgrims might come and go again without creating embarrassing situ-
ations, and be provided with everything they might have needed for their
spiritual, and material welfare, as soon as they arrived, and throughout their
stay. The words inde Gloria mea were fulfilled on a far larger scale than
Don Bosco himself could ever have imagined!
The fiftieth anniversary was also commemorated by two undertakings,
which were intentionally associated with it. The first of these undertakings,
was established at Becchi. A lawyer, Peter Bernardi, had lived a frugal life
in Cairo, and had guarded his savings, since he wanted his money to be
used for some charitable purpose after his death. To this end he named the
Salesian School for Missionaries his heir. When the munificent benefactor
went to his reward, Father Peter Ricaldone thought best to fulfill his inten-
tions by deciding to open an orphanage near the humble abode of the Man
who, at a very tender age had lost his father, and had been forced to go
out and seek employment, and sustenance at neighboring farmhouses, who
had strengthened himself at the school of suffering, of poverty, and of hard-
ship, to the point of becoming one day the Father of orphans. Father Peter
Ricaldone urged the completion of plans for a huge building, so that the
cornerstone thereof might be laid shortly after the Turin festivities that we
have just described. This ceremony took place on June 26, 1938. The Cardi-
nal Archbishop, Maurilio Fossati blessed the cornerstone, and poured the
first lime on it. An unusual circumstance helped make the liturgical rite

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
more solemn. The Fifteenth General Chapter of the Salesian Society had
just begun, and so, the forty-eight Provincials, with as many delegates, attended
the ceremony, in addition to the Cardinal ofTurin and the Superior Chapter.
The name of the orphanage did not commemorate only the distinguished
benefactor who had endowed it, but also an illustrious Barnabite monk, a
nephew of his, for it was going to be known as the Bemardi-Semeria school.
Strange, indeed; there is a dream of Don Bosco, which seems to have
some connection with the undertaking, started at Becchi during the fiftieth
anniversary of Don Bosco's death. We spoke of this dream in the first
chapter of the preceding volume. Don Bosco saw his mother standing at
that spring, which gushes forth to the left of anyone following the old path
that descends from Becchi to the road leading towards Buttigliera. Mamma
Margaret was unable to understand why the flow of water, which had
always been so limpid, suddenly looked so dirty. She then uttered the
lamentation of Jeremiah: Acquam nostram pecunia bibimus [We drank our
own water and paid for it]. Then she led her son to the top of a hill, a short
distance away form the spring, whence your eyes could have stretched out
and reached a vast panorama. It is here that Don Bosco and his mother
talked about the amount of good which needed to be done in the lands
beneath them. At that moment Don Bosco woke up. Later, as he was
reporting the dream, to Father Lemoyne, and several others, Don Bosco
remarked: "The spot to which my mother led me would be an ideal place
for a House, because it is a central point of junction, connecting many
boroughs which do not have a church." Now when Fathers Peter Rical-
done, and Fidelis Giraudi went to Becchi to choose a place where the
orphanage could be built, they chose the hill Don Bosco had seen in his
dream, and when they found it out, they were astonished that, quite unbe-
known to them, they had selected the exact spot of which the Saint had
spoken when telling people about the dream. We will add something else!
Shortly before, the Sanitation Department for the Province had declared
spring water, which had quenched the thirst of several generations polluted,
and at Becchi the drinking water provided by the government of Monfer-
rato was used but at a cost (aquam nostram pecunia bibimus).
The cornerstone of another important undertaking was laid on July 3,
1938 the year of the fiftieth anniversary of Don Bosco's death. The Fiat,
the biggest automobile plant of Italy, had an enviable reputation in industry,
and in other spheres, as well, and it employed a great number of workers.

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The Senator, John Agnelli, had founded it in Turin. When it became neces-
sary to move the plant to another site in the neighborhood of Viale Stupi-
nigi, the courageous industrialist decided to build a great festive Oratory,
with a public church, not too far from the huge auto plant then under
construction, so that the children of the employees might get a Christian
education, and also a modem international, Institute of Electromechanics,
for the technical formation of Salesians, to be sent to different parts of the
world. The Cardinal Archbishop went to invoke the blessing of Heaven on
the work about to be initiated and performed the solemn rite once again
in the presence of the members of the Salesian General Chapter, and the
local civil authorities. This institute was going to be built almost in front
of the La Generala, the house of correction for wayward boys, where Don
Bosco had given a demonstration of the effectiveness of his system of
pedagogy.
The Salesians in every country did celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of
their Founder's death, but we shall mention only one country whereto Don
Bosco had always wanted to extend his apostolate: England! The fiftieth
anniversary ofhis death coincided with that ofthe beginning ofthe Salesian
activity in England. As a matter offact the Saint had sent his sons to London
barely two and a half months prior to his death. The anniversary was
therefore celebrated in the British capital with a series of festivities, which
ended at Shrigley, near Manchester, where the Salesians had been directing
a flourishing missionary Institute for eight years. With the help of the
Salesian Cooperators they had built a handsome church of majestic size
and a beautiful architectural work. It had been dedicated to St. John Bosco.
The Salesians felt that no occasion could have been more propitious for
its inauguration than this two-fold fiftieth anniversary. And so, the church
was opened for public worship with great solemnity, in July 1938. The rite
was attended by some four hundred thousand pilgrims, not only from
England but also from Scotland, and even from far-away Ireland. The name
of Don Bosco was so much liked that his church has already become a
favorite place of pilgrimages for the people, of the surrounding area,
especially for members of the Catholic Action Association.
The fiftieth anniversary of Don Bosco's death ended in a most fitting
way: Pius XI, "Don Bosco's Pope" beatified Mother Mary Mazzarello.
Rome gave her the title of "Co-Foundress of the Institute of the Daughters
ofMary Help of Christians" which was both honorable, and well-deserved.
This great honor was connected with the very important role that she played

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
in the foundation of a religious Congregation destined to have such a
glorious future. Her merit stemmed from the fact that she became a humble
tool in Don Bosco's hands in shaping the first Sisters who were expected
to give the Congregation a start and that character desired by the Founder.
Her merit stemmed from having placed in Don Bosco' s hands all the
choicest virtues, which may adorn the heart of a virgin consecrated to God.
And Don Bosco directed her in her undertaking, he supported her in her
sacrifices, overjoyed at seeing the treasures of grace showered upon her,
for her personal sanctification and for the good directing government of
her associated Sisters. In his annual letter to the Cooperators4 Father Peter
Ricaldone wrote, very aptly, that the beatification of Mary Mazzarello
"was yet another luminous proof of the vast influence of the spirit of our
great Father in bringing forth fruits of sanctity."
Mary Mazzarello was beatified on November 20, 1938. She was the
third of three Servants of God to be beatified after Blessed Rossello and
Blessed Cabrini but her beatification surpassed both of them because of the
vast crowds of Romans and other visitors. It was obvious that the name
of Don Bosco had much to do in providing a movement of people far
superior to any expectation. On the eve of the beatification, the Pope
granted a solemn audience to some five thousand people. The venerable
Pontiff walked through the crowded halls of the Vatican amid enthusiastic
acclamations, and addressed the crowd from his throne with his august
words, which were conveyed by the loudspeakers even to the people
outside the Basilica. Among other things, this is what the Pope said: "What
more is there to say in addition to what these facts, these words have already
said? For the event to which God is summoning us to witness, is so great
that no word is adequate to express it. We mean the elevation of a faithful
servant of his to those supreme honors, which call back from all parts of
the world the light of St. John Bosco within which she looks so radiant.
What we intend to do is only take from this event a message which we
entrust to the memory of all these participants, a message for you, dear sons
and daughters, to put into practice. We are all gathered together here, and
tomorrow we shall gather again for a more solemn, more splendid occa-
sion, to rejoice, and to feel proud for the exaltation, and the glory of this
great Servant of God. We too feel proud of it because it is just and due.
After all the Venerable Mary Mazzarello is a member of our family, and
we are members of her family. In the Communion of Saints, in the union
4 Salesian Bulletin, January, 1939.

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of the Mystical Body of Christ, all of us, the faithful, are not only brothers
and sisters, but are also members of the same Body, of the same super-
natural organism, which lives the very life of God, and is thereby transfused
in it. It is only natural that the sons and daughters should feel for the glory
of their Mother and Father. This gives it the clue for a practical and good
message: it is a right to feel proud of our Sister; we may and we should
be proud of her. But in her tum, she had a far greater right, a higher and
sovereign right to be able to feel proud of us, to regard us not as her
unworthy children, but as her children who are faithful to the glory of the
Divine Blood, which sanctified Her, and should sanctify us, too.
"As children, faithful to the great name of the Christian family, which
binds us to Jesus Christ, and all the Saints, beginning with the Immaculate
Virgin, we should regard it as a sacred duty to honor, and to glorify this
great family of ours. May this family never have cause to be ashamed of
us. May it be proud of us, of our conduct, indeed, of our Christian way of
life, which stands for a holy life, as holy as the life of this great Servant
of God.
"Not everyone has received the same amount of grace but everyone
has been called to the same sanctity. We are called to this holiness; we all
belong to a family of Saints, we are all members of a holy Body, and there-
fore we, too, should be holy, in the measure of grace, which God shall not
deny to us, as long as he finds a faithful and generous correspondence in
our conduct. As the Apostles would say, "may our whole life, all our acts,
all our words be worthy of the great name we bear, of the great family to
which we belong. That's the way we will honor this Servant of God in a
manner expected of us, and those great words of some the greatest and the
most beautiful words uttered by St. Paul, will be applicable to us: Apostoli
Gloria Christi! [The Apostles are the Glory of Christ!] Wondrously beauti-
ful, sublimely great words!
"This is the vocation that all the faithful have: to be part of the glory
of Christ, according to the measure which God has decreed for each of us
by His Grace, even as His humble Servant, Mary Mazzarella, was His
Glory, and shall be forever and ever. Here we have a person who with her
name, her fame, her example, circles the globe and leads it, as she pro-
claims the Glory of Christ Who alone can work so great a miracle as to
tum such a humble woman into such a moral beauty, and such a greatness
that she is elevated to the supreme honors, and the whole world is com-
pelled to decree for her all kinds of glory. This is our paternal wish-
message to you-the fruit, so to speak, of these great, solemn celebrations:

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since we are children and brothers of Saints, and we, too, are Saints, may
our whole life resemble their life. May it reflect something of their sublime
moral stature, so that we, too, may share in the immense glory rendered
to the Apostles, and that is, to be the glory of Christ.''
St. Peter's Basilica was crowded to its fullest capacity for the ceremony
held the next day. The presence of eleven Cardinals, and thirty-seven
Bishops of whom nine were Salesians, enhanced the liturgical splendor of
the occasion. The pontifical Brief, which proclaimed Blessed the Servant
of God, described her life and gave an account of the procedure followed
during the Cause. Between these two parts of the Brief there was a short
description of the newly Blessed Servant of God: "Simple in her way of
acting, frugal in her food, assiduous in the performance of her duties, and
although very poor she was generous in giving; she was prudent and strong
in guiding her Sisters, even though as far as the direction of the Congre-
gation she relied entirely on St. John Bosco. She was very pious in her
prayers, very diligent in keeping the integrity of her innocence and purity.
She was enkindled with a very ardent love for the Holy Eucharist, as though
she could see Jesus with her own eyes; nor was her veneration for the
Blessed Virgin, especially under the title of Help of Christians, less warmly
affectionate."
After the reading of the Brief the solemn rite continued in an atmo-
sphere of devout piety, and sentiment, vibrant with youthful enthusiasm.
The Pope's homage of veneration in the afternoon drew an even larger
throng, so that the vast Basilica could not accommodate everybody who
wished to enter. Outstanding personalities and delegations assisted at the
ceremony from reserved box seats. In the sanctuary there were forty Bishops,
and eighteen Cardinals accompanied the Pope's retinue when he entered
the church. The Rector Major, and the Postulator, Father Francis Toma-
setti, presented the ritual gifts. As the Holy Father looked at a picture of
Blessed Mary Mazzarella, he remarked that her hands expressed spiritu-
ality, and industriousness. A vertebra of hers in an exquisitely wrought reli-
quary, reminded the Holy Father of something he had said in reference to
a similar relic of Don Bosco: "Look, Father Ricaldone, a very strong back-
bone." By which he meant to say that she had been endowed with a great
moral rectitude, strength of character, and an energetic will.
In the following weeks two solemn triduums were celebrated in her
honor, one in the church of the Sacred Heart in Rome, the other in the
Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin. On both occasions famous

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preachers sang her praises, woven together with recollections of Don
Bosco. While similar celebrations continued all around the world, a new
monumental altar was under construction in the church of Mary Help of
Christians, not too far away from the altar of St. John Bosco, where the
sacred mortal remains of Blessed Mary Mazzarella were to be exposed to
the veneration of the faithful. These two saintly souls who had already been
linked in action, will never be separated in their joint glory.
At a distance of fifty years after the death of the Founder, religious
Congregations owing their existence to him can look back-I would not
say-with pride, for this expressions would be too profane, but certainly
with justified complacency, at the journey they have covered. Statistics
attest the uninterrupted progress in their swelling ranks, the multiplication
of their initiatives, and the expansion of their tents being pitched all over,
beyond all boundaries, and all seas. No human power could ever have
accomplished all this without the supporting Hand of the Almighty. May
God Who began this great, beneficial work, and Who has guided it thus
far, perfect it more and more every day, and grant that it may last until Time
is engulfed by Eternity. In the meantime, soli Dea honor et Gloria [honor
and glory to God alone].
The next time Pope Pius XI entered the Basilica of St. Peter, no longer
could he impart his blessing from the elevated gestatorial chair, no longer
could a jubilant multitude acclaim him. He was stretched out on his funeral
couch, accompanied by funeral prayers and he was borne toward his last
resting place in the mysterious shadows of the crypt beneath the Basilica,
not too far from the tomb of St. Peter's. The whole world mourned his
death, which occurred during the night of February 10, 1939, when the
galley proofs of this volume in which he is so frequently mentioned, or
where his own words are so often quoted, were undergoing corrections.
We believe that we have paid to the memory of this great Pope that
debt of gratitude, which the Salesians owe to him. We have considered
worthy to hand down to history what this Pope had graciously done on
behalf of our Father and Founder, Don Bosco. There has never been a Pope
who has publicly exalted a Servant of God and his undertakings with such
love and so constantly, as Pope Pius XI did for Don Bosco for seventeen
years. Ten days prior to his departure from this life, Pope Pius XI had
granted an unforgettable audience to the fourth successor of Don Bosco,
Father Peter Ricaldone. At the end of it, the Pope told him in his fatherly
way: "You have no idea how much delight your visit has given to Us."

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May his great soul rest in peace, and may the flames of gratitude in the
hearts of all Salesians, endure brightly shining forever, now and in the
future.

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Appeuhix
1
INSCRIPTIONS BY FATHER ANGELINI, S.J.,
FOR FUNERAL SERVICES OF DON BOSCO IN ROME
On the door of the church:
JOANN/ BOSCO
SACERDOTI
QUI - SINGULAR/ - DE/ - MUNERE
AETATI - NOSTRAE - TRIBUTUS
CHRISTIANI - NOMINIS - DECUS
INGEN/0 - CONS/LIO - LABORE - CONSTANTIA
PROVEXIT
ET - POSTER/TATEM - PROSPICIENS
NOVIS - AD - VIRTUTEM - INSTRUX.IT - PRAESIDIIS
SODALES - SALES/AN/
AUCTORI - PARENTI - MAGISTRO
JUSTA - ET - LARCRIMAS
On the forepart of the bier:
INFLAMMATO - STUDIO
AD - ANIMORUM - LUCRA - RAPTUS
OPUS - QUOD - REG/ONES - OMNES
OMNESQUE - AMPLECTATUR - AETATES
MENTE - VOLUTAT
CONSILII - SOC/OS - ET - ADMINISTROS
SIB/ ADIUNGIT
SOCIETATEM
CUI - A - FRANCISCO - SALES/0 - IND/TUM - NOMEN
CONSTITUIT
LEG/BUS - ROM - SEDIS - AUCTORITATE - SANCITIS
SEPIT - COMMUNIT.

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On the side of the bier:
MENTE - EXCUBANS
NE - QUID - DETRIMENT/- CAP/AT
ADOLESCENT/UM - INSTITUT/0
AB - EORUM - OCULIS - PRAVA - VOLUMINA
INNOCENTIAE - ET - FIDEi - LABEM - INFERENTIA
AMOUTUR - NOVA - ERROR/BUS - EXTERSA - SUBIICIT
REI - CHRISTIANAE - HISTORIAM
ITAUAE - FASTOS - DESCRIBIT
SCRIPTORES - QUI - PIETATEM - ALANT - FOVEANT
UT - OMNIUM - MAN/BUS - TERANTUR
IN - LUCEM - PROFERT
JOANNES
AN/MO - CIRCUMSPICIENS
QUID - REI - PUBUCAE - CHRISTIANAE - CONDUCAT
QUID- OBSIT
COG/TAT/ONES - ET - CURAS
IN - PUEROS - PROBE - INSTITUENDOS - CONFERT
DEi - UN/US - SPE - FR ETUS
AMPUSSIMAS - AEDES - A - SOLO - EXCITAT
ART/BUS - OPEROSIORIBUS - RUDIO RES - ADD/CIT
INGEN/0 - ACRES - LITTERIS - IMBUIT
LECTISSIMOS - UT - DIVINA - OBEANT - MUN/A
SACRISQUE - INITIENTUR - COMPARAT
2
INSCRIPTIONS WRITTEN BY FATHER MAURUS RICCI,
D.S.P., FOR DON BOSCO'S FUNERAL IN FLORENCE
On the main door:
For the poor, humble priest
John Bosco
Whose Christian charity
Enriched him, endowed with great heart and intellect
And Who, as an indefatigable disseminator of the name of Christ,
Ventured into the most Barbarian territories,

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With Saintly daring action,
Carrying the radiance of good studies,
The beauty of useful arts,
We implore the eternal joys of Heaven,
The only reward ever desired by him
Who consoled all woes, of so many sufferings here on Earth
With his pious words and wise writings,
With his generous suffering.
Around the bier:
I
Unto himself he took as his own
The children of the starving masses,
Who were drifting toward the ignominy of prison
On the swelling tide of corruption.
With them he shared his humble board,
And cheered by the hope of faith,
He strengthened his power to comfort them in their despair.
II
Misguided craftsmen scorned the priest,
He, the priest, pitied them, and loved them.
With the eloquence of pious deeds,
And not with the sparkle of resounding words,
He refuted for all time to come
The lie, a thousand times repeated,
To besmirch the name of the Catholic priesthood.
m
With sarcastic arrogance,
The misguided foreigner mocked Italy,
And described her as the land of the dead.
But he, inspired by the memory of Golgotha,
The perpetual hearth of our love,
Revealed her so full of vitality
As to confound the repentant scoffers.

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IV
Oh, Thou, great model of gentle zeal,
Francis of Sales,
And Thou, leader of an indomitable army,
Ignatius of Loyola,
And Thou, in Thy apostolic school for the sons of the people,
Joseph Calasanz,
Welcome this valiant, kindred spirit into your blessed company.
3
LETTER TO THE SALESIANS OF NICTHEROY
FROM THE ARCHBISHOP OF RIO DE JANEIRO
Dearly Beloved Salesians:
Don Bosco is now in Heaven! What happiness, what good fortune for
him! And what an honor for the Salesians! Now Don Bosco will help the
sons he left behind and now, more than ever before, he will love them! Don
Bosco is of far greater help to you from Heaven than he would be from
Turin or from Rome. From Heaven he is able to see in a single moment
all his dear sons scattered throughout the world; he listens to all of them;
he is interested in all of them, and he can do more for them with God. What
great good fortune and happiness for Don Bosco! What an honor for the
Salesians to have their Father among the Saints and Angels, close to Our
Blessed Mother and Jesus Christ! How Heaven must have rejoiced when
this worthy priest entered it! ... How many souls were saved by means
Don Bosco and his sons! They all must have gone out to meet him and have
welcomed him and clasped him in a holy embrace, such as we could not
begin to imagine.... And what must Jesus Christ have said to him? ...
Euge, serve bone ... whatever you did for my little ones, you have done
for Me, and now I shall reward you. Intra in gaudium Domini tui. 0 happy
Don Bosco! Happy indeed!
And so, a thousand congratulations to you, my dearest Salesians ! Such
congratulations are of great value, for they stem from Christian faith.
But ... good Lord! We don't lack reasons for offering to you our
wholehearted sympathy! Jesus wept at the death of Lazarus. And how
could the unhappy, disconsolate Salesians not weep at the death of Don
Bosco? Weep, my sons, or better, let all of us weep together, for we all were

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fortunate enough to have known Don Bosco, to have partaken of the
goodness of his heart, the fruits of his charity!
Let us weep then, but like Christians. Let us weep, but as men who
even as they weep know that Don Bosco is in Heaven, and that he will never
forget all the people whom he loved on earth and whom he has now left
behind him immersed in deep sorrow.
0, Don Bosco, remember the poor Bishop of Rio de Janeiro, who was
the first Bishop in South America to be visited by your sons when they were
en route to Rio de la Plata, the first Brazilian Bishop to open the first House
of your good sons in this Empire. Remember me, when the time will come
for me to die. That will be all I ask.
My congratulations and my condolences to all of you most beloved
Salesians; I assure you that I share your sorrow, your affliction, your
sadness. May God bless you and console you all.
Your affectionate friend,
•Peter, Bishop of St. Sebastian
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, February 6, 1888
4
LETTER ADDRESSED TO FATHER RUA
BY THE BISHOP OF MONTEVIDEO
Very Reverend Father Michael Rua:
The tragic news of the death of the virtuous and venerable priest, Don
John Bosco, the Founder and Rector Major of the worthy Salesian Congre-
gation, which your Reverence was kind enough to communicate to me,
filled me with great sorrow.
I am indebted to this distinguished benefactor of Christian Society for
many reasons, and so as a Prelate, I have prayed humbly to the Supreme
Creator in the name of my people, as soon as the telegraph informed us
that he had passed on to a better life. At the same time, I begged and
implored God to preserve, sustain and prosper the institutes of zeal and
charity he leaves behind, so that they may continue.
Don John Bosco is not dead; his memory lives on and will live forever,
because the Institutes he founded in God's Name and for His greater Glory,

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with the approval of the Supreme Head of the Church, the Vicar of Jesus
Christ on earth, must live on too.
Don John Bosco lives on and will always live on in the memory and
in the heart of thousands of poor boys who learned the Holy teachings of
their faith from his lips, from his words.
Don John Bosco lives on and will live on forever for future generations
that his worthy sons must evangelize, in the many thousands of boys who
suffer both from spiritual and material needs.
Don John Bosco lives on and will always live on for the Diocese of
Montevideo, which was one of the first to benefit from his solicitous efforts,
because graciously did he send to us his sons, who distinguished them-
selves and covered themselves with honor in their work in the schools and
the parishes entrusted to their zeal.
Don John Bosco lives on, and will always live on, especially for me,
who had the honor to know him personally and to appreciate his rare
virtues. As a token ofmy great esteem and veneration, I have made arrange-
ments with the pastor of the Montevideo Cathedral to have solemn funeral
services for the repose of his soul and I myself will be participating in these
services.
May I convey to the Salesian Congregation my fervent gratitude toward
Don John Bosco's memory, as well as my sincerest condolences for his
death. At the same time, I implore the Merciful God to bestow all sorts of
Blessings on the Salesian Institute we have here.
May God keep you for many a year.
• Innocence Mary
Bishop of Montevideo
Montevideo, March 9, 1888
5
FATHER BONETTI IS APPOINTED
TO ACT AS POSTULATOR
Nos Sacerdos Michael Rua Rector Maior Piae Societatis Sancti Fran-
cisci Salesii.
Dilecto Nobis in Christo Sacerdoti Ioanni Bonetti salutem.

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Fama sanctitatis Servi Dei Sacerdotis Ioannis Bosco in dies percre-
brescente aequum ac religiosum existimavimus Christifidelium votis annu-
ere, qui Causam Beati.ficationis et Canonizationis praedicti Servi Dei ad
maiorem Dei gloriam et Ecclesiae bonum exoptant. Quapropter Te de cuius
scientia et probitate necnon in rebus gerendis dexteritate docti sumus, ad
Postulatoris munus in Processibus ad dictam Causam spectantibus eligi-
mus et nominamus, conferentes Tibi omnes facultates de iure necessarias
et opportunas, ut legitime possis ac valeas agere, instare et sistere, etiam
per alium Ecclesiasticum virum iuridice a Te substituendum coram Iudici-
bus delegandis in qualibet Ecclesiastica Curia, in Urbe et alibi, quodcum-
que licitum atque honestum iuramentum praestare, testes et contestes
inducere et quodlibet aliud ad rem necessarium et opportunum perficere,
quousque Causa ipsa, Dei gratia favente, ad exitum perducatur.
Datum Augustae Taurinorum die secunda lunii an. 1890.
Sac. Michael Rua R.M.
Sac. Angelus Lago, a secretis
6
FATHER BONETTl'S CREDENTIALS AS POSTULATOR
PRESENTED TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF TURIN
Sacerdos Joannes Bonetti Postulator specialiter constitutus in Causa
Beati.ficationis et Canonizationis Servi Dei Sacerdotis loannis Bosco Funda-
toris Piae Societatis Sancti Francisci Salesii, quemadmodum constat ex
mandato Procurationis, quod reverenter exhibet, humillime exponit Eminen-
tiae Vestrae praefatum Dei famulum post exactam vitam in heroica exer-
citatione omnium Christianarum virtutum, adeo universale post obitum,
qui accidit die tragesima prima mensis Januarii an. 1888, sui desiderium
reliquisse et constantem sanctitatis famam, ut plures pii devotique fidelis
ad eius implorandum patrocinium accurrentes, insignes gratias et prodi-
gia a Deo obtinuerint.
Quoniam vero eadem sanctitatisJama, quin decreverit, mirum in modum
aucta sit apud etiam doctos gravesque viros, qui eum dignum existimant,
ut accedente Sanctae Sedis Apostolicae iudicio, Beati.ficationis et Canoni-
zationis honore decoretur: idcirco ipse Causae Postulator tam proprio quam
sui constituentis nomine ad maiorem Dei gloriam, qui se mirabilem in servis

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
suis quotidie ostendere non desinit, Eminentiam Vestram enixe exorat, ut
decernere dignetur constructionem Processus auctoritate ordinaria super
Jama sanctitatis vitae, virtutibus et miraculis praedicti Servi Dei ad for-
mam Decretorum generalium S.R. C. etpraesertim novissimorum, quae con-
.firmatafaere a Venerabili Servo Dei Innocentio Papa XI, ne ulteriori mora
testium probationes per obitum pereant.
Sac. Ioannes Bonetti
Causae Postulator
7
THE "IURAMENTUM CALUMNIAE" OF THE POSTULATOR
Ego sacerdos Joannes Bonetti specialiter constitutus in Causa Beati-
.ficationis et Canonizationis Servi Dei Sacerdotis Ioannis Bosco, tam pro-
prio quam meorum principalium nomine, tactis hisce sanctis Dei Evangeliis
coram me positis, iuro et promitto me non accedere, non accessisse neque
accessurum ad hanc causam et confectionem huius Processus neque ad
aliquem ipsius actum odio, amore, timore, lucro sive quovis alio respectu
humano, sed solum zelo honoris et gloriae Dei, qui magnificatur et laud-
abilis est in Sanctis suis, et hanc intentionem habere meas principales, qui
me constituerunt; in quorum animam sicut et in animam propriam iuro sub
omnibus clausulis in simili calumniae iuramento latius contentis et expres-
sis. Et ita iuro: sic me Deus adiuvet, et haec sancta eius Evangelia.
Sacredos Ioannes Bonetti
Causae Postulator
8
FATHER RINALDl'S LETTER ADDRESSED TO
THE CARDINAL PREFECT OF THE SACRED RITES
Most Reverend Eminence:
I am informed by our General Postulator that among the observations
made in the examination of the heroicity of the virtues practiced by the
Venerable Servant of God, John Bosco, our Founder, more substantial
evidence had been requested as to his life of prayer and his prophetic spirit.

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I have prayed for and meditated on both issues, and I feel that in support
of the abundant facts submitted during the proceedings, I must confirm the
many depositions on record before Your Eminence, by making two state-
ments under a binding oath:
1. It has been objected that the Servant of God applied for dis-
pensation from the Breviary, and obtained it. He did this when
he was already in his fifties and found himself, for long periods
of time, quite unable to read anything. This is what he himself
told me when I was only a cleric, and I had told him that I was
going to see an oculist. He looked at me as if he wished to say
that the examination would avail me nothing, and then he said:
"Look, I have always had weak eyesight, too, and now it is
so weak that at times I am unable to read at all. Then there are
other times when I can both read and write, with greater or
lesser difficulty." I understood immediately that he was trying
to tell me that one day I would find myself in the same pre-
dicament. And this is exactly what has happened, for I am now
able to read the Breviary without any trouble, but for quite
some time I could not read it at all.
May I say here, Your Eminence, that I am firmly convinced that
Venerable Don Bosco was a man of God who lived in continuous commu-
nication with God by means of prayer. During the last few years of his life,
he would retire to his room every afternoon between two and three o'clock,
after spending his mornings listening to people of all walks of life, of every
conceivable social standing, for they came from all over to ask for his
advice, or implore his blessing. During that hour, the Superiors never
allowed anyone to disturb him. Now from 1883 until the time of the death
of the Servant of God, I was in charge of a House of formation of aspirants
to the priesthood, and since Don Bosco had once told me that I could call
on him any time I needed to, I broke the above-mentioned rule several
times. And I did this perhaps out of indiscretion, but certainly because I
was sure that at that hour I would be able to confer with him at greater ease.
Not only did I call on him at that hour at the Oratory, but also at Lanzo
and at San Benigno, where he would go quite often; I also called on him
several times at this same hour at Mathi and in the school of St. John
Evangelist in Turin, too. Whenever I did so, no matter in what House it was,
I always caught him unaware, rapt in meditation, his hands clasped.
2. The second thing to which I must refer had to deal with the
difficulties following the death of His Eminence, Cardinal Cagli-
ero. It has been falsely reported and interpreted as coming from

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
Don Bosco that Cardinal Cagliero would not be able to be present
at the resumption and closing of the Vatican Council.
It is now over forty years that I have lived in close contact with the
older Salesians who informed me that when John Cagliero was appointed
Bishop, Venerable Don Bosco said he would live for many years. We
believed he would attain the age of 85, whereas he lived until the age of
88. Don Bosco also said that he would take part in an important event at
the Vatican. But he did not specify what this great event would be, and it
was Father Viglietti, a cleric at the time, who gave his own arbitrary
interpretation to the words, and who stated both in word and in writing that
Don Bosco had told Bishop Cagliero that he would take part in the con-
clusion of the Vatican Council.
It is moreover true that I myself, and many others, have always con-
sidered this interpretation of Father Viglietti as purely arbitrary and erro-
neous, and I have always said as much to everyone who discussed it with
me. When asked by me and by other people on the matter, Cardinal
Cagliero always stated that Don Bosco had never made any such prophecy
to him.
Therefore Don Bosco never said, as it has been erroneously alleged
because of the interpretation made by Father Viglietti, that Bishop Cagliero
would take part in the conclusion of the Vatican Council, but merely that
he would participate in an important event at the Vatican. Cardinal Cagliero
did indeed participate in one event at the Vatican. This was the Conclave
at which the Holy Father Pius XI was elected. Don Bosco, throughout his
whole life, loved the Roman Pontiff, for whom he had cherished the most
tender and zealous affection, but naturally he was third in line, that is,
immediately after Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin. And so
that event in which, by the Mercy of Divine Providence, one of Don
Bosco's poor boys from the Oratory was to take part, that event was
considered great by Don Bosco.
I confirm this statement under oath, word by word.
Your Eminence may make whatever use of it you may see fit.
I beg you to forgive my boldness and I bow before you, as I kiss your
sacred ring.
Your humble, devoted, and grateful servant,
Rev. Philip Rinaldi, Rector Major
Turin, September 29, 1926

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To: His Eminence Cardinal Anthony Vico Ponens
or Relator in the Cause of the Ven. John Bosco Rome.
9
CANON SORASl'S LETTER ADDRESSED TO THE
PREFECT OF THE CONGREGATION OF RITES
Most Reverend Eminence:
The Apostolic Process regarding Ven. John Bosco is now over, and I,
as Deputy Vicar of His Eminence, our Cardinal Archbishop, will join my
colleagues in drawing up the report thereon. I am already over 80 years
old, and because I fear that Death may come upon me suddenly, I would
like to inform your Eminence of a personal matter which might shed some
light on the objections raised against the hearings. I would like my state-
ments to be included, after my death, with the other papers relating to the
proceedings.
When the disagreement between the late lamented Bishop Gastaldi,
Archbishop of Turin, and Don Bosco entered a crucial phase, some pam-
phlets were published, which were against the Archbishop. Some people,
who had no idea ofthe kind of man Don Bosco was, suspected that he might
have been the author. Shortly after, it became known that the Fiscal Advo-
cate for the Curia, Canon Colomiatti, had opened an investigation and was
cross-examining witnesses.
At that time I was secretary to the Curia, and one day Canon Chiuso,
who was the Archbishop's Secretary, his Chancellor and later his Pro-Vicar
General, told me that since I was the Promoter of the Episcopal Board, I
was obliged to request the Fiscal Advocate, Canon Colomiatti, to initiate
proceedings against Don Bosco, as the author of the pamphlets in question.
I replied very strongly that in my opinion it was impossible that Don
Bosco would have fallen so low, since I knew that he had many other things
to worry about, because he had to feed all the young students and artisans
who lived at the Oratory, and his other schools and missions. I also added
that I did not think him capable of philosophical dissertations, such as those
set forth in one of the mentioned pamphlets. I even summoned up my
courage and the audacity to say to the Canon, who had been my fellow
student when I studied Moral Theology, "Look here, Don Bosco has
become such a mighty Colossus that he will crush all of you!"

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Surprised at hearing these words, Canon Chiuso replied: "Then you
know who the real author is." "No," I answered, "but I have my suspi-
cions about one individual." Out of discretion, I did not dare to mention
any name. But I suspected Father Rostagno, S.J., with whom I had once
exchanged a few words when I met him on my way to the office. Despite
the fact that he knew quite well who I was, I once heard him exclaim:
"We'll fix your Archbishop!"
Seeing that I was speaking no more, Canon Chiuso sent me to see
Canon Colomiatti, who repeated the same invitation, or command. I related
what I had told Canon Chiuso, but did not go so far as to repeat what I
had said about Don Bosco, the Colossus. Then, he said self-assuredly:
"What if we were to condemn him?" "Then I would bow before the
verdict," I said, "because I would suppose that you had such reliable, clear,
and unequivocal proofs against him that you had no choice but to condemn
him." At that point he picked up a large folder, containing, I believe, the
depositions of the witnesses he had interrogated, and showed it to me. He
said sententiously: "Do you see this? We shall not conduct the process for
Don Bosco as we did for Cottolengo !"
I signed the petition, asking him to proceed against Don Bosco, for the
petition was already drawn up ... parcat mihi Deus! [May God spare me!]
That was the era of power and superpower, not to say anything more!
From the moment when I dared to declare myself openly as a defender
of Don Bosco, I realized that I was only tolerated at the Curia. A short time
later, the Archbishop told me that the parish at Aglie (under the patronage
of His Royal Highness, the Duke of Genoa) was vacant, and without
making any reference to what had happened, he told me that I would be
well-advised to accept it. Later, he insisted again, but I told him that it
would be very hard for me to leave the Diocese in which I was born. A
short while went by and I was offered the parish of St. Maurice in the
Diocese of Turin. I realized that I was forced to accept the offer, but while
I was preparing to pass my examination, the patron, Marquis Doria, called
on the Archbishop, to introduce the priest he wished to appoint to that
parish!
At that time, the priests of Corpus Domini who knew that I was under
attack, accepted me in their Congregation, and four years later the Canons
at the Cathedral asked me to join them as their colleague.
As Prosecuting Advocate for the Informative Process, I may be accused
because I did not call either Canon Chiuso or Canon Colomiatti as official

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witnesses. But I did report the facts to the Archbishop, Bishop David Ric-
cardi. In his brisk way he replied: "Canon Chiuso has been attended to!"
(He had been stripped of his office as Canon!) "As for Canon Colomiatti,
what does that fellow know about Don Bosco?" Then he said something,
which I understood to mean that I was free to call other witnesses, where-
upon I called three: the theologian Bongiovanni, Canon Como, and Canon
Berrone.
I did not summon Canon Colomiatti, because I knew that the Curia had
been obliged to withdraw the suit it had filed against Don Bosco. More-
over, when he had made his deposition, the witness, Rev. Professor Turchi,
presented a sealed envelope to the Tribunal, with the request that it be for-
warded to the Cardinal Prefect of the Sacred Congregation, and it was sur-
mised that in this sealed statement he admitted he was the author of the
famous pamphlets. And so the accusation that they had been authored by
Don Bosco, as Canon Colomiatti had sustained so implacably, vanished.
Then quoting Canon Como, who had been pro-secretary to Bishop
Gastaldi for many years, and precisely during the years ofgreater tension,
I felt I had completely fulfilled my duty.
It is neither within my power nor my competence to evaluate the weight
of Canon Colomiatti's depositions, but I am in a position to testify that
several distinguished people who had dealings with him know how easily
he passed judgments and verdicts, and how, once he had passed a judg-
ment, it was impossible to get him to listen to any argument, or rebuttal
of his judgment.
I beg Your Eminence to pardon my boldness, and while I kiss your
sacred ring, I deem myself honored to be, with deep veneration,
Your obedient servant,
Canon Michael Sorasio
Deputy Vicar
Turin, November 8, 1917
10
FATHER TURCID'S LETTER ADDRESSED TO THE
PREFECT OF THE CONGREGATION OF RITES
Most Reverend Eminence:
In my deposition before the Reverend Judges in the hearings for the

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
cause of Beatification of that saintly priest who was Don John Bosco, I
asked if I might present a sealed envelope to the judges, and permission
was granted. This envelope was to be opened only by the Sacred Congre-
gation of Rites, and used with the utmost secrecy. I felt I had to do this so
that the Sacred Congregation might be fully convinced that Don Bosco
never wrote, nor intended to write, pamphlets attacking Bishop Lawrence
Gastaldi, the former Archbishop of Turin, and also to keep the names of
the real authors who had written against or about Bishop Gastaldi from
being made known to the public, or handed down to History.
In writing these few lines, I consider myself bound by the oath taken
for my deposition. Moreover, I wish to say that I am not writing this
because I feel rancor toward the memory of Bishop Gastaldi for whom I
feel compassion, since he was a man who based his judgment on first
impressions and must have been somewhat abnormal in his thinking. A
Piedmontese Bishop who is still alive agreed with me on this, and he is
a very wise, very pious and very learned man. Furthermore, I think that
he was surrounded by the wrong kind of people. This becomes more and
more obvious in the light of the behavior of the former secretary and
advisor of Bishop Gastaldi, Canon Thomas Chiuso, who was interdicted
quite recently, by a direct order of His Holiness Leo XIII, from the cele-
bration of Mass, and also from acting as a Canon of the Metropolitan
chapter as he was before, and was declared incompetent for any ecclesiastic
appointment or office. This also was proven by Father Marcellino, who at
that time was the pastor of the Holy Martyrs Parish here in Turin, a post
which he filled until quite recently. This priest, who was an intimate
associate and advisor to Bishop Gastaldi, thanks to whose friendship he
first obtained the above-named parish, had fallen low in regard to morality,
and when Bishop Gastaldi became convinced, at long last, that this was not
only a question of gossip, but a question of deeds, he was obliged to instruct
the Curia to bring him to court. But the Archbishop was so saddened when
he came to know what his confidant really was, that many maintain that
his sudden death, which occurred a few days later, was caused by his
disappointment about Father Marcellino. Father Marcellino finally was
forced to give up his parish, but he still lives in Turin, or travels around
in secular garb, even sporting a moustache. It's not exactly known what
kind of life he is leading now, though no one finds anything good to say
about him.
At that time, everyone knew that the management of the Archdiocese
left much to be desired under the episcopate of poor Bishop Gastaldi,

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especially during the latter years. Everyone knew about it and still knows
today. I suppose that Rome knew about it; perhaps Rome knew even more
about it. I spent not a short time in Rome myself (part of 1877 and part
of 1878), and I often heard people who were unable to betray the truth talk
about the complaints against Bishop Gastaldi which were made by people
holding high positions in the Church, and even by His Holiness, the Pope
himself. Besides, the pamphlets in question contained enough material to
give an idea to what point things had reached under poor Bishop Gastaldi' s
rule. As far as I know, no one ever contradicted or rebutted these pamphlets
in public. Apart from what I came to know personally, even a Bishop of
a Piedmontese diocese who lived in Turin before he was appointed a Bishop
and who was in a position to know quite well persons and places, assured
me not long ago that the pamphlets were read avidly, and as it was dis-
covered later, they were telling the truth.
It is well known that poor Bishop Gastaldi was up in arms against every-
one and everything: 1. Against the Holy See, because he refused to obey;
thereby he incurred special suspensions, since he had refused to accept the
verdict of the Roman Tribunals. Instead, he had sought the advice and plans
of eminent magistrates, in order to react against Rome and render void its
verdicts. 2. Against some Faith Decrees: Before he became a Bishop, Gastaldi
had published some propositions which agreed with sectarian leaders. These
propositions had been refuted in one of the already mentioned booklets
entitled Short Essay on the doctrines of Bishop Gastaldi, and specifically
in that section which prayer is an essay. 3. Against the Moral theology of
St. Alphonsus de' Liguori: which he considered too lax. This opinion led
him to destroy one of the finest, and, for Piedmont, most beneficially influ-
ential institutions, namely, the Convitto Ecclesiastico, where priests studied
Moral Theology to rout Jansenist rigorism out of Piedmont. Men outstanding
for their learning and sanctity, such as Fr. Guala and Father Joseph Cafas-
so, had founded the Convitto. And this led him to get rid of that great scholar
of Moral Theology, the Rev. J.B. Bertagna, who is now the titular Bishop
of Capernaum; 4. Against religious Orders and Congregations, especially
against the Jesuits: When Bishop Gastaldi himself taught moral theology
to young priests, he often turned his lessons into tirades against the Jesuits.
Additionally, in one of his published works he stated that the religious life
was no more perfect than the simple priesthood. Especially was he against
poor Don Bosco. It would take far too long to describe in detail the extremes
to which he carried his persecution against Don Bosco. Don Bosco was
considered guilty for not allowing the Archbishop to destroy both him and

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
his Congregation; 5. He was against sound Catholic philosophy, for he
himself defended Rosminian theories. I myself once claimed in a liberal
newspaper, that in Gastaldi, the Archbishop of Turin, they had a staunch
champion. 6. He was against his own Clergy and against the best of them,
issuing countless suspensions for petty reasons. Among the victims of such
suspensions was Don Bosco himself, whom he suspended from hearing
confessions. Don Bosco was not aware of this, and others thought that as
usual his license had been renewed for a year. But Don Bosco had been
granted the faculty to hear confessions everywhere, without any territorial
restrictions, by Pope Pius IX, as Don Bosco himself told me. 7. Finally,
Bishop Gastaldi was up in arms against his fellow Bishops of the area,
whom he prohibited from officiating at functions in his Diocese. 1 8. I might
even say that he was against the Very Saints themselves, because at that
time when a certain 'Laude' (publication on Praise) of St. Alphonsus was
about to be reprinted for the thousandth edition, he would not allow this
until he had inserted a variation of his own in the text. When the printer
and others pointed out to him that the text was ancient, and that no one
had ever found cause to object to anything in it, he replied: "St. Alphonsus
was a Bishop, whereas I am an Archbishop, and that is the way I want it!"
9. He was against the Metropolitan Chapter. When he formed his Synod,
he submitted a copy of the document to the Chapter, as requested. But at
the assembly of the Clergy in the Cathedral, the Bishop had another docu-
ment read to them. Then, when he went to the Ligurian Riviera for the
baths, he compiled a third document, and he had it printed in 1873. I have
been told that this is the absolute truth. Many questions were raised at that
time, and they are raised still, concerning its validity, excluding what was
retainedfrom the Synod ofCardinal Costa. But who could distinguish between
what belonged to Costa and what did not? A very careful examination would
be needed to do so. I had heard from a reliable source that the learned moral
theologian, Bishop Bertagna, during his lecture to young priests claimed
that the Synod was not valid. If it is quoted by Bishop David dei Conti
Riccardi, our most revered Archbishop, it is mainly because it relied upon
a tacit consensus provided by the Metropolitan Chapter, as Bishop Re, the
Bishop of Alba, once told me. But how can we suppose that, at an oppor-
tune time, the Chapter had not protested against it? And so, the Synod would
be a Synod, and yet at the same time, no Synod at all. Later, Bishop Gastaldi
1 At this time Bishop Emiliano Manacorda, the worthy Bishop of Fossano in the Archdiocese of Turin, was
forced to apply to the Holy See, asking that he might no longer be subject to Bishop Gastaldi, his metropolitan
Superior. His petition was granted.

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attacked Margotti, and his Unita Cattolica, and harassed him so severely
that Margotti turned over the ownership of the newspaper to his brother,
Stephen, in order to escape from it. It is very strange that at Bishop Gastal-
di' s death, all the details regarding his residence, the viewing of his body,
and all that was going on in the archepiscopal palace and the adjoining
public chapel, as well as the details about his funeral procession, etc., were
all accurately reported by a blatantly liberal newspaper, one of the very
worst, and second only to La Gazzetta del Popolo, namely La Gazzetta
Piemontese, from which the religious papers took their news. Moreover,
Bishop Gastaldi retained liberal ideas, and this is evidenced by one of his
pastoral letters.
Yet, I must admit that Bishop Gastaldi was badly served by his Curia.
Once, as I happened to be in one of the offices of the Chancellery in Rome,
a brilliant canonist said to me, "But how is it possible that in Turin no one
can deal with the Canons?"
Anyone who wishes to know about the disorders and the evils of that
time should read the various pamphlets published by Bishop Gastaldi, not
excluding the Report by the Rev. John Bosco to the Cardinals ofthe Sacred
Congregation ofthe Council, a report which he had written very reluctantly
in obedience to the Holy See. He was forced to have it printed but only
as a very limited edition, and all of it printed in the dead of night and by
personnel who were not connected with the Salesian Houses, save for the
Director of the Sampierdarena Publishing Company of St. Vincent de Paul.
This was in 1881.
The proof that those pamphlets told the truth, apart from the fact that
they were considered true by everyone, is the fact that Bishop Gastaldi had
the intention of filing a suit, ifnot against the actual authors, at least against
the publishers. But when consulted, the Royal Attorney asked, "Are the
facts alleged in these pamphlets true?" "Well, now ..." the Bishop began,
whereupon, either the Royal Attorney himself or some other magistrate,
said, "If the facts alleged are true, be careful about filing any suit, because
if you do, you will stir up a hornet's nest, and that would be much worse
than to let things go." This was discussed openly, as a reliable fact, in Turin.
This means that these evils did really exist, and that they were very
serious indeed. Let me speak now about the pamphlets and single out what
is more important in them.
Already, prior to the year 1878, liturgical Calendars contained many
things that were amusing and ridiculous. I admit that I was amused by them,

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as other priests did who were my friends and even some who were more
than simple priests. In Turin, I heard people complain continuously and
deplore the state of affairs. I come from the same town as Don Bosco, and
thus from the same town as Fr. Joseph Cafasso, and even though as a cleric
I belonged to the Seminary of Turin, which was closed down and then
reopened, though only for certain courses, I spent ten years with Don
Bosco, that is, from the third grade of High School, as we call it today, until
a few months after my priestly ordination. For this reason, I loved Don
Bosco very much and it made my blood boil when I saw how Bishop
Gastaldi, Chiuso, and Colomiatti (although the last did not do so until later)
harassed and tormented him. Practically every day they found something
new against him. Since I lived in Rome for some length of time, teaching
under Bishop Crostarosa (1877-1878), I had occasion to hear the things that
high dignitaries of the Church, and even those of higher rank, were saying,
for I had several important friends and acquaintances. I asked someone in
Turin to send me a copy of the Liturgical Calendar for 1878. When I realized
that it was even more absurd than the previous issues had been, I began
to look through it carefully, and all sorts of ideas flashed through my mind.
It was then that the idea started coming to my mind (it was only to my mind
and my head) the idea of writing a magazine with the intention, at that time
only a vague intention, of printing it. And so I began to jot down my
observations, humorous in nature, on the Liturgical Calendar by Bishop
Gastaldi. I no longer recall if it was before I started to write or when I was
already writing, but I do recall that someone, I really don't know who, must
have been the author, a friend of mine, about whom I shall write shortly,
I sent him a printed page (I do not remember if it was in the form of a letter
or an essay.) The printed page was signed by a Salesian Cooperator and
defended Don Bosco versus Bishop Gastaldi. This made me feel very eager
to either start writing or to continue to write and to have printed what I was
writing or had written. (In all truth, my memory is not very good, and I
do not recall whether I had actually begun writing or not; I'd suppose the
latter, that is to say, that I was eager to continue writing.) So I drafted the
Strenna for the Clergy, that is A Review of the Liturgical Calendar of the
Archdiocese of Turin for the year 1878, written by a Chaplain. That Chap-
lain was I and is I, the Rev. John Turchi.
As for the printed letter by the Salesian Cooperator which I just men-
tioned, that was written by the Rev. J. B. Anfossi, Doctor of Letters and
Philosophy, and now honorary Canon at the Holy Trinity Church in Turin.
(Either he told me about it himself, or I may have heard about it from

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someone else, as well as from him.) He was and still is a friend of mine.
He, too, had lived with Don Bosco at the same time that I did, and also
had left him at the same time. He, too, had always had a deep affection for
Don Bosco. When I told him what I was planning to do he kept me informed
of everything that was happening in Turin. By being there on the spot, he
was better able to know about it than I was, since I lived in Rome. In this
way, he supplied me with fresh material for my Strenna.
In Rome I discovered that a Jesuit priest, Anthony Ballerini, (I believe
his name is, or was, Anthony), was also writing something about Bishop
Gastaldi's doctrines. So I called on him, additionally because I needed a
few explanations about the miracles,2 that is to say, about their approval,
or non-approval, by the Ordinary of his Diocese. In this way we talked:
I about my Strenna and he about his Essay on the above-mentioned theo-
ries. I think we said that since there was no other way to aim at him, Bishop
Gastaldi had to be exposed and the press was needed to achieve this. Poor
Bishop Gastaldi relied on the backing of laymen, among whom was a
relative of his who was the Minister of the War Department, General Mace
de La Roche.
When I informed Ballerini that I had been told that the Pope was
thinking of removing Bishop Gastaldi from office, even though there was
fear that he might go to extremes and create a huge scandal, Ballerini
answered: "But he has already gone to extremes; he very definitely did go
to extremes!" I may be wrong, but I believe that, already at that time, he
asked me to try to get his essay published in Turin, I mean the Little Essay,
etc. and that I agreed to satisfy him. At any rate, it was understood that he
would send the manuscript to Turin and that arrangements for printing it
would be made there, inasmuch as he was not eager to reveal his identity,
either. Besides, I believe I remember that he also said that Bishop Gastaldi
must be belabored by the press; there was no other way. All this talk
encouraged me to print my Strenna and all the rest of which I shall speak
shortly. Rather, on account of this and on account of all that I had heard
being said in Rome by someone who must have had access to more
information, I became convinced that the idea of belaboring him by the
press had come from on high! I was told that in a previous instance
concerning poor Cardinal D' Andrea, Pius IX himself said: He must be
belabored by the press. Indeed he was assailed both directe vel indirecte
[directly and indirectly]. With all that Father Ballerini said and did, I was
2 It refers to miracles already acknowledged for some time in other dioceses.

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encouraged and I was given confidence to stay the course. I, then, am the
author of the Strenna and I am fully convinced that what I did was good.
It was printed in Turin at the publishing company of G. Bruno & Co., in
1878.
But as to the Strenna or the other things published, I had had nothing
to do with the printer personally. All the arrangements for the printing were
made by Anfossi and another mutual friend of ours, Aloysius Fumero, who
had also lived with Don Bosco at that time when Anfossi and I did. Then
he too had left the Oratory and was, at the time, a typesetter in Bona' s
Publishing Company. He was a reliable person. There was also a certain
Brunetti, another past pupil of Don Bosco, who was in the same line of
work as Fumero (Brunetti is now dead). All of them, save Anfossi, nego-
tiated with the printer. They arranged for the contract and the expenses.
From the profits made on what we printed and sold (at least as far as the
Strenna was concerned) we saved enough to donate a fair-sized sum of
money to the Home (after we deducted our expenses).
The same things happened with the other pamphlets, without the printer
ever knowing who had written them.
When I was back in Turin in 1878-79, Father Ballerini sent me the
manuscript of his Short Essay, and I wrote what came before and after it,
namely the Preface, the Introduction, four Appendices, and the final sec-
tion, the Oratory ofSt. Francis of Sales in Turin, the exact words used by
Bishop Gastaldi when he was still a Canon and prior to his missionary work
in England. Last of all, I wrote the Warning, which was the very last thing
in the booklet.
While I was writing all of the above, I was Rector and teacher at the
Institute for the Blind in Turin, where I remained for three and a half years.
Everything leads me to believe that if I was then obliged to leave it, it was
because of a maneuver of Chiuso, or by the direct action of Bishop Gas-
taldi. This caused me considerable grief, for I was very fond of those good
and dear pupils, and it brought them much suffering, since after I left, all
the Rectors were more or less secularized laymen, while a few were also
immoral. In short, the Freemasons who did not want a priest to be Rector
had their way. Now, to return to what I was saying: while I was writing
the above, a Jesuit priest, Father Rostagno, who had been a renowned
professor of canon law in Belgium (at Louvain, I believe) came to see me
one day. I could not say how, but he had come to know that I had had
something to do with Ballerini's Essay, and that I was then at work on
something that would be published together with it. I took advantage of

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his visit to ask for his advice, and to obtain certain clarifying details. He
made several suggestions and he encouraged me, and I made use of some
of the ideas that he had given to me in my own literary style. Therefore,
if what I did was a sin, I had two renowned Jesuits, Father Anthony
Ballerini and Father Rostagno, as my accomplices.
Father Anfossi wrote another pamphlet, of which I no longer recall the
exact title; but it was drawn from a newspaper, fl Conciliatore I believe,
of which the Rev. Theologian Lawrence Gastaldi (of the University) was
Director. All I did in this was to compile Footnotes. Concerning another
pamphlet which dealt with something that had happened in Chieri, between
the late Salesian priest, Bonetti, on one hand, and Oddenino, the pastor of
the Chieri Cathedral, and Bishop Gastaldi on the other, I knew nothing until
it was published. I thought that Father Bonetti himself had written it, but
then someone very reliable assured me that it had not been written by
Father Bonetti at all, but by someone else who had no connection with the
Salesian Oratory, nor did I ever find out who the author was.
After the above-listed publications, someone told me that in Rome,
people were expecting others; some even complained that they had come
to an end. Even Father Ballerini had other material ready to complete his
Essay. I believe that Father Rostagno, as well, insisted that there should
be more publications. But at that time I was too busy, looking after my
beloved blind charges, and I felt that what had already been published was
enough to acquaint both Turin and Rome with the situation and the people
involved and the evil being done, in order that that suitable measures could
be taken. I did not plan to write anything more, and thus, there was an end
to it.
In my opinion, there is absolutely no doubt that these pamphlets did
some good; although Bishop Gastaldi did not stop entirely, yet he did at
least checked himself to a great extent. In Rome, where, as everyone was
saying, there had been plans to make Gastaldi a Cardinal and appoint him
to some office, people came to understand the kind of man that he was. He
himself realized how wrong he had been in closing the Convitto Eccle-
siastico for the study of Moral Theology, and he did what he could to
reactivate it. At present, the Convitto is flourishing once again. His succes-
sor, Cardinal Alimonda, soon restored peace. I like to think that these
pamphlets contributed in some small measure to the appointment of Car-
dinal Alimonda as Archbishop of Turin. Thanks to him, and at his urging,
the proceedings began for Don Bosco's Beatification, and under his Epis-
copate, things which had been consideredfaults in Don Bosco were judged

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meritorious and worthy ofpraise. Peace was restored among the ranks of
the Turin Clergy, and some of them realized they had done wrong to incite
Bishop Gastaldi with their advice; I really believe that when they desisted
from their former practice and acted as pious gentlemen, they did so more
out of conviction than out of expediency. Chiuso and Marcellino are still
alive; but they are discredited. And they constitute a sorry comment on all
that they persuaded Bishop Gastaldi to do. Gastaldi, unfortunately, did not
know his men well enough. After so much harassment, the commendable,
meritorious Salesian Congregation was treated with much affection and
consideration by the great Pope Leo XIII (May God keep him for many
a year!). Another excellent, holy priest who had been similarly persecuted,
the theologian Rev. Bertagna, who had to go to Asti to find refuge and
became Vicar General there, was called back to Turin by Cardinal Ali-
monda who appointed him auxiliary Bishop. Now, besides being the Rector
Major of the Metropolitan Seminary, and of four other Seminaries, as well
(the Royal Park in Turin, and the Seminaries of Chieri, Bra, and Giaveno),
he has resumed his lectures on Moral Theology for the younger members
of the Clergy. An era of peace began for the ranks of the Clergy, when
Cardinal Alimonda came to Turin. The frictions, the fears, the secret accu-
sations, and the scandals came to an end. Another positive outcome of it
all was that the very wise Pope, Leo XIII, actually stated, when speaking
of Bishop Gastaldi with considerable emphasis: "Either he makes his
peace with Don Bosco, or he will have to be removed from office." In fact,
a settlement was arranged, though it did not last for the remainder ofBishop
Gastaldi' s life, because, poor man! he seized on another issue which lasted
until he died, while Don Bosco found himself obliged to report any further
harassment he might receive from the Archbishop.
Some people cried 'scandal' in regard to the pamphlets, but those who
protested were not many. It was mostly those whose plans were upset by
the publication. The real scandals unforunately given by Chiuso and Mar-
cellino soon smothered the outcry,-'unfortunately,' and we could add, provi-
dentially. At that time, one of the most angry of all was Canon Colomiatti.
Well, now he calls on the Salesians, on their Superior, Father Michael
Rua, and they all repay him for his abuse and the hatred shown by him not
long before, with warm respect and cordiality. Praised be God, because of
it! But I believe that the Pamphlets, which did create a lot of trouble,
certainly, should be given their share of merit. A number of people were
heard to exclaim in reference to them: "Oh! How right that Chaplain was!
Ifonly we had listened to what he said! If we had, the Archepiscopal Curia,

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the pastors, and priests and all those good nuns and sisters, and many more
people would not have forfeited all those enormous sums of money which
Chiuso dissipated so reprehensibly. If people had listened, there would not
be so much useless weeping now."
If the Seminarians had given heed to all the things that the poor
Chaplain pointed out to them in the pamphlets, they would not be involved,
as they are now, in a law suit brought against them by Chiuso, who, after
squandering monies entrusted to him in the amount of six hundred thou-
sand lire-without considering anything else-is now demanding some two
or three hundred thousand lire more!
Before closing, may I say something about the questionnaire connected
with the cause of Don Bosco' s Beatification; that is, I would like to express
my own opinion in regard to it. I think that this questionnaire is so compiled
that, as far as the publications about Bishop Gastaldi are concerned, Don
Bosco is presented as a culprit, unless some justification can be found to
excuse him. I felt very indignant at this, and suspected that there must be
some former adversary of his behind it. I imagine that that section of the
Questionnaire was drawn up in Turin.
After all, these pamphlets never spoke out solely in defense of Don
Bosco, but also on behalf of many other people, and on behalf of many
other matters of the greatest importance.
Now that I have come to the end of this epistle which is far too long,
and written in very bad handwriting, in a very disjointed way, and with
corrections to boot, I beg Your Eminence, Cardinal Prefect of the Sacred
Congregation of Rites, to forgive me, and to take into account all the things
I have to do. At the same time I deplore and condemn in advance anything
that you may find to be exaggerated or not entirely correct or fitting in what
I have written. I likewise repeat that if I have said too much against the
late Bishop Gastaldi, this was not because of any sentiment of rancor
against him, for I pray for him, although I hope he is already in Heaven.
Lastly, may I ask Your Eminence, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation
of Rites, to convey to all the Reverend members of the above-mentioned
Congregation my sincerest regards and respects, while, as an obedient son
of Holy Church, I am honored to be,
Your humble, obedient servant
Rev. Prof. John Turchi
Archepiscopal Seminary at Bra (province of Cuneo)
October 25, 1895

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11
DON BOSCO AND THE CONCILIATION
It is not without a providential significance, the fact that the beatifi-
cation of Don Bosco and its solemn celebrations occurred at a time when
Peace was decreed and ratified between Church and State.
As far as the event, which we consider accomplished today, everyone
agrees that the basic element underlying it was the fact that Pius IX had
remained in Rome after what happened on September 20, 1870. Despite
the fact that many people had urged the Pope to follow the hazardous path
of exile, and Pius IX himself was doubtful as to what he ought to do, it
was Don Bosco who persuaded the Pope to remain. The Pope had asked
for his advice, and after he had prayed for some time, this simple priest
wrote his answer, which in substance and in style had all the resoluteness
and the fearlessness of Saints who, despite their humility, do not hesitate
to speak out forcefully, even to the supreme authority, when they feel that
this is necessary. The sure conviction felt by St. Catherine of Siena flared
anew within him, and this is the message Don Bosco sent to the Pope: "The
sentry, the Angel of Israel, must stand firm at his post, to defend the rock
of God and the Holy Ark."
And, if the expression is not too bold, the Pope obeyed.
Pius IX thoroughly understood the kind of man Don Bosco was. Ever
since 1858 he had known him in Rome, when Don Bosco first had gone
to the Holy City to lay before him his plans for the foundation of the
Salesian Society.
When Don Bosco saw that one hundred and eight episcopal Sees were
vacant in Italy in 1865 as a consequence of political strife, he ventured to
write to the Pope to express his hope that the damage which this caused
to the welfare of souls might be rectified by negotiation between the Holy
See and the Government. The Pope was pleased to hear this advice, just
as he was pleased that Don Bosco spoke of the matter to the Secretary of
State for Internal Affairs, John Lanza. The outcome of this was that Pius
IX wrote to Victor Emanuel, asking him to send an envoy with power to
negotiate, and the King wrote in reply that he consented. This led to the
mission of Vegezzi, who, however, was unsuccessful because of the indis-
cretion ofnewspapers and the ensuing uproar in Parliament. The important,
intricate matter was then resumed by the Minister of State Ricasoli toward
the end of 1866, after the war with Austria. The subsequent Tonello mission

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was successful because Ricasoli did something that no previous Cabinet
Minister had done since 1848, though many were the envoys who had been
sent for various reasons to negotiate with the Pope since that time. Ricasoli
sent an unofficial mediator who was acceptable to the Holy See and who
enjoyed Papal trust, to negotiate with the official envoy. Together with
Lanza, Ricasoli shared the great merit of understanding Don Bosco's
extraordinary talent for diplomacy, although he had no preparation for such
a diplomatic mission. If only space would allow us to report in detail all
that Don Bosco achieved on this occasion, with the Government on one
hand, and with the Pope and eminent Prelates on the other, if only we were
able to describe all the obstacles he encountered and the way he managed
to overcome them, we would realize that when sanctity is added to the
special natural talents of a person, then sanctity becomes the tool needed.
The devout yet courageous frankness used in speaking is clear in Don
Bosco's relationship with the Vatican, and no less so in dealing with the
government in the event of September 20, 1866. The awareness of his own
dignity and of his priestly duties is evident. In his dealing with both sides,
what is obvious is his authority, which came from the blending of his own
complete unselfishness and his ardent, yet perceptive, concern for the
welfare of souls, of the Church, and of his country.
The nobility of his intentions gave Don Bosco that serenity of spirit
which is so indispensable in conducting negotiations of great importance.
Thanks to Don Bosco's success, some provision was made for the
vacant Dioceses. During the Consistories of March 23rd and 27, 1867,
thirty-four Bishops were appointed.
This matter of episcopal appointments was complicated once again by
the annexation of Rome to Italy, with all the moral, political, and judicial
consequences that ensued. Between those that were already vacant and
others that were newly made sixty Italian Dioceses were without shep-
herds. So, once again, in agreement with Pius IX, Don Bosco approached
Lanza, who throughout that period was the President of the Cabinet of
Ministers, to offer his services as mediator, without waiting for Lanza to
call him. Lanza accepted the offer, and the Piedmontese priest journeyed
to Rome again and again, to cope with the increased difficulties that now
lay before him. By October 17, 1871, Don Bosco had succeeded in getting
forty vacancies filled.
Was Don Bosco called in 1874 to negotiate the true and genuine con-
ciliation, after these conciliatory experiments had provided at least a partial
and limited conciliation? Did the negotiations with Vigliani, the Keeper of

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the Seals in Minghetti's Cabinet, which had been instrumental in prevent-
ing the suppression of the Mother Houses of Religious Orders and of four
famous Roman Monasteries, have any bearing on that same Conciliation?
It is evident that Bismarck who, at the time exercised tremendous pressure
on Italy to prevent this Conciliation, attributed immense importance to the
negotiations conducted by Don Bosco, whose presence and activity in the
capital were known to him, and caused him serious worry.
Again, in 1878, Don Bosco proved a most effective mediator between
the Government and the Vatican. It was he who obtained from Crispi, the
Secretary for the Interior, the assurance that freedom would be respected
for the Cardinals who were to attend the Conclave at which they were to
elect the successor of Pius IX, and the guarantee that their persons would
be protected while they were in Rome. Thanks to this guarantee, the Sacred
College decided not to hold the Conclave elsewhere, and thus the serious
error of holding it abroad was averted.
Had such an error been committed, there would have been no Lateran
Pact today. Therefore, Don Bosco played a wise and decisive role in every
careful conciliatory detail, in each of the many elements so indispensable
to the Conciliation which has, at last, been finalized. It is therefore only
logical that the Roman Peace Pact, and Don Bosco's sacred triumph, be
indissolubly linked as one, even as regards time.
Philip Crispolti
12
"DON BOSCO RETURNS"
The hymn "Don Bosco Ritorna" is inspired by one paramount thought
which constitutes its whole spirit: the idea of Don Bosco' s return! The
refrain says:
Don Bosco returns-once again among the boys;
They call to you, a quiver with joy and love!
On January 31, 1888, the day of his death, Don Bosco did not abandon
Valdocco; he only left it for a while. Valdocco was his first, his main House.
Now after only 41 years, he was returning, summoned by thousands and
thousands ofboys who were to march ahead of his venerated mortal remains.
They hailed him with cries of joy because of the sacred, wonder-working

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halo circling his head; they hailed him with voices of love, with that grati-
tude and filial affection which they felt for his sons, for his work.
As the youthful crowds were descending from the slopes of Valsalice
toward the bridge and the regal and spacious avenue, the sacred and
triumphant road, truly worthy of so great a glorification-one's thoughts,
filled with emotions, went back to that distant day of November 3, 1846,
when, with a bundle containing a few notebooks, a Missal, and a breviary,
and together with his mother Margaret, who was carrying a basket of bed
linen, Don Bosco arrived from Castelnuovo d' Asti weary and covered with
dust; he was descending the hills on foot, to go and set up house in the shed
of Valdocco.
The hymn starts with this touching vision, which it contrasts with the
magnificent procession of June 9th.
This is a literal translation ofthe hymn, which was then sung. The lyrics
of the hymn now being sung by the Salesians in different countries were
changed considerably.
He came down from the hills one distant day,
With only his mother at his side,
Thou hast come to this valley
Of your dreams, under a tender spell.
Today, Oh! Father, thou dost not descend
These hills alone;
An immense army of Thy sons
Are here to accompany Thee home.
Don Bosco's home today is Valdocco,just as it was then, in November
1846. Yet what a great contrast do we see! Then it was a modest hut, where,
following the hubbub of the Sunday crowd of boys, solitude and silence
reigned during the rest of the week. Now, all around it, you can hear the
hum of a district, which is as big and as bustling as a city. Inside the
immense walls of the Oratory, there is a crowd of two kinds of boys who
work with their hands and their minds and enjoy the merriment of games
and the harmonies of songs.
Then Valdocco was a desert
With neither life, nor joy;
It was an untilled, open plain
Where only a shed gave refuge!

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Now look, 0 Blessed Father:
A happy nation lives
'Neath the flowing, golden mantle
Of Mary Help of Christians!
Yes, return, smiling:
The world acclaims thy work:
Now life is resplendent
Where before there were but dreams and hope.
Come back, and look around Thee: by the thousand
Thy children stand intent on their work;
The hours slip by serene,
'Mid work, and music!
As Don Bosco moves toward his House, another immense throng of
boys comes streaming from the other parts of the city, where off-shoots of
the mighty tree, whose roots grow deep at Valdocco, have flourished. These
boys, too, are his sons, just as are all the others who, in different parts of
the world, sing praising his beloved, glorious name in many different
tongues:
Everywhere, dear Father, thou seest
The faithful, beloved city:
With vast cohorts of boys
Who stream from every quarter.
Beyond the mountains, and the seas
Thy image glows in splendor;
Unto the furthest boundaries
Rings the echo of Thy name!
Now at last, as Don Bosco comes in sight of Valdocco, a wondrous
vision is seen at the Rondo (where Corso Regina Margerita joins Corso
Valdocco and Corso Principe Eugenio); this is the vision he saw in his
dream of 1845 when, as he stood at the same Rondo, he saw three noble
youths (Solutor, Adventor, and Octavian) who called out to him to go into
the Valdocco fields where, immediately, the wonderful apparition of Our
Lady amid the hosts of the Blessed, presently portrayed in the picture
which now adorns the altar in the church of Mary Help of Christians,
unfolded before his eyes.
It is this same Virgin Help of Christians who, as a gilded image, from
her lofty post atop the dome of the temple, calls to him and awaits him,
to enfold him in the celestial splendor of her power and majesty.

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Yes, Don Bosco, return
To thy beloved Valdocco:
As on that bygone day, from the Rondo
She still calls Thee, and awaits Thee!
She is the Mighty Virgin,
Of Christians Help and Mother,
Hailed, together with Thee, 0 Father,
By all nations, in all tongues!
(From Il Momento)
13
THE MASSES COMPOSED BY THE MAESTRI ANTOLISEI
AND PAGELLA IN HONOR OF DON BOSCO
Judging by his method of building up vocal counterpoint, Maestro
Antolisei is a faithful disciple of the Roman school of the Post-Palestrina
period, of which the richly imaginative Octavian Pitoni was the leader.
Thus one should say that Maestro Antolisei is a disciple of the homophonic
school of counterpoint, which makes use of a broad eurythmic theme, with
colorful overtones, and which blends so harmoniously with the setting of
the 15th and 16th century Roman Basilicas. Let us now take a look together
at his impressive composition.
The first theme of the Kyrie is well designed and you gladly listen to
its repetition by the first bass voices; it appears short, yet incisive and
haunting. The theme will be repeated several times, but now it will be
reversed, now picked up by other voices both in the third Kyrie and the
Miserere nobis of the Qui tollis, and in the Agnus Dei. The ternary rhythm
of the Christe forms an effective contrast with the first and third Kyrie, also
because the theme of the soprano and contralto voices is later repeated one
third higher by the male voices, while the upper register repeats it once
again with ingenious variations.
It is interesting to note that the Kyrie commences on the tonic note and
ends on the dominant note, while the Gloria begins on the dominant note
and ends on the tonic note. This weaves a pattern of tonal, architectural
unity, which is clever and haunting in both these compositions. In the
Gloria, the Glori.ficamus Te is well constructed and forceful, after the
fashion of skilled masters of counterpoint, and the Miserere nobis, with the

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Kyrie theme sung by the first bass, recurring at the end of the Qui tollis,
is very pleasing, as we already noted. As the voices soar in a progression
of syncopated harmony, in the Tu solus Altissimus, there is an upward
sweep of great simplicity, which is, nevertheless, luminous in its beauty.
The Cum Sancto Spiritu, too, is beautiful, ingenious, and very effective in
the soaring and falling progressions that confer an intensely dramatic
sonority to the magnificently blended voices. The final Amen consists of
thirty bars of logical, linear, almost classical construction, which greatly
distinguishes Maestro Antolisei.
In the Credo, which has always presented an intricate, difficult problem
for every composer, Antolisei makes use frequently of a homophonic idiom
choir in which soprano alternates with contralto, tenor with bass. In this,
he often contrasts the limpid notes of the upper register with the darker
tones of the lower, blending them at times in skillfully woven harmonic
hues.
From the outset, the voices blend and alternate swiftly, in obedience
to a golden rule handed down by the classical masters of polyphony for
whom each theme most coresponds to a specific phase in the vocal text.
The Et Incamatus is subdued and hushed in commemoration of the divine
mystery, yet it is adorned with several successions of harmonious chords
that are incisively modem in the best sense of the word, and thrilling in
their expensive richness. The heartrending cry that erupts at the Crucifixus
is expressed and rendered very originally, and vibrates with deep feeling
in a haunting, persuasive, falling progression of voices that prepare for the
Passus et sepultus est, as the richly varied hues diminish.
The general structure of the composition progresses fluently toward its
conclusion with a highly sonorous arrangement of the vocal parts, which
are always controlled to attain the desired structural and emotional effects.
This is made evident by the few bars of the Et vitam venturi, which consists
of only six measures, but which is, nevertheless, very effective, and sweep-
ingly majestic. The theme ofthe Sanctus is diaphanous, almost transparent,
as it soars upward little by little in isolated fragments, intensifying its power
with a striking counterpoint as it attains the upper register, in a way that
resembles the Palestrinian tradition, in the Pleni sunt coeli et terra, etc. The
theme becomes broader, more sweeping, as it swells with rich, triumphant
sonority, to blend in the Hosanna which commences on a subdued note that
later grows in vibrant ecstasy. The classic, homophonic style of the Bene-
dictus plays on an ingenious theme, first in the upper register by the tenor,
and then by the soprano voices. Subsequently, the Hosanna is resumed as

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before, but in its repetition we do not discern the inspired variations, and
development which distinguishes the Kyrie. Yet Maestro Antolisei makes
up for this in his Agnus Dei, which, in its intricate design, is one of the
most inspired and well-constructed parts of the entire Mass. Although he
retains the fundamental characteristics ofthe composition, namely, the alter-
nating responses by the various voices, he is not content with mere alterna-
tion, but weaves the voices together very skillfully, attaining magnificent
and richly harmonic effects at times. With inspired single-mindedness of
purpose, he again exploits the theme of the Kyrie, as we already noted; this
incisive, haunting melody is so agreeable to the ear that anyone who hears
it will quickly assimilate it and remember it later with wonder and deep
emotion. We shall even go as far as to say that just as Maestro Pagella's
Missa sollemnis was inspired fundamentally by an anthem in praise ofBlessed
Don Bosco' s "Ahl Sing out in jubilation!" the Mass by Antolisei is based
primarily on the theme of the first Kyrie which recurs throughout the entire
composition with noble austerity, even though it is not always evident.
Beginning with a determined form that, as we already noted, is based
on the alternate responses of the voices (which in this instance, are repre-
sented by four adolescent voices, and four male adult voices), the com-
poser might have lapsed very easily into a monotonous uniformity, yet he
avoids this pitfall very skillfully, thanks to the device of an almost identical
response to the first part in a combination of three and even four parts. He
does not give his preference to themes sung by single voices in sequence
at brief intervals, one from the other, in the tradition of classic counter-
point, but to themes sung by three or four voices, which he weaves together
in solidly constructed homophonic texture. In this, the Roman Salesian maestro
aligns himself with those composers who, in the latter half of the 17th cen-
tury, and in the capital city of the Catholic world, built genuine master-
pieces of musical design that, in our opinion, were aesthetically related to
all that had been created architecturally a century and a half earlier. Thanks
to this, the style of this Mass by Maestro Antolisei is purely Roman, and
well worthy of sincere admiration and enthusiastic acclaim.
We say this unequivocally and without any reservation!
Not every choir would be able to cope with a composition like this,
nor perform it. But the composer's intimate knowledge of the voices, which
he manipulates with skill and logic, without demanding excessive effort in
order to obtain greater effects, enlisting the voices about his individual
soloists now and then to give them support, reveal that this Mass ofMaestro
Antolisei deserves to be performed again, and to be made known in the

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major Italian cities. The reason is that the overall structure of the noble
composition reveals the masterly counterpoint of this excellent musician.
He is particularly well deserving for his contribution in raising the stan-
dards of sacred music in general among the Salesians. He accomplished
this by a faithful allegiance to the traditions of sacred vocal music, by a
masterly knowledge of the resources of the human voice, and by the subtle,
strictly aesthetic expression he gives to the meaning of the words, without
betraying the stringent requirements ofliturgy. These distinguishing charac-
teristics which are typical of the past and present work of Father Raphael
Antolisei, make us hope that his compositions will live long, as they truly
deserve, and obtain the widest possible recognition....
II
Father John Pagella, a devoted son of Blessed Don Bosco who is a
distinguished figure in the realm of art, as well as a distinguished member
of the Pious Salesian Society, has long been respected as one of the more
prolific and imaginative Italian composers. His rich and varied musical
compositions range from sacred music in general to the Cantata and
Oratorio, from chamber music to compositions for organ, from choral
music to symphony. A distinguished and noble artist, indeed! As the author
of the opera Job, completed in 1903, which would have been hailed as one
of the finest works in this style, had it been presented at the time when it
was written, Father Pagella was certainly most eligible to be one of those
whose powerful musical genius and excellent technique were enlisted to
help enhance the solemn celebrations in Turin for the beatification of the
Founder of the great religious Congregation of which he is a member, and
which broadens and expands its beneficial influence, day after day, all over
the world, in the immortal name of Blessed Don Bosco.
Contemporary sacred music has long sought a personal idiom, as the
great polyphonists did in Rome and in Venice, during the 16th and 17th
centuries. For the sake of religious devotion, for the sake of Art, it was
imperative that vulgar profanities be expelled from the temple. Yet even
when Art had affirmed and established its duty and its right to be Art as
such, to be Art especially in the vicinity of Christ's own altar, it was essen-
tial that Music should have continued to be Music, in a purely practical
sense, but always keeping a high artistic level. Yet how many mediocre,
insignificant creations were widely accepted and supported in Italy, under
the guise of liturgical music!

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Maestro Pagella is one of the few eminent musicians who, in their
sacred compositions, have remained faithful to the principle that to write
music, you need music!
He was happily inspired when he composed his Missa sollemnis XIX
in honorem Beati Ioannis Bosco on the theme of a short Christmas carol
composed by Blessed Don Bosco himself: "Ah! Sing out in jubilation!"
[Ah! si canti in suon di giubilo!]
In past ages, polyphonists excelled in the use of either complete or
fragmentary Gregorian themes for their sacred compositions.
Now, Maestro Pagella has, so to speak, modernized this technical and
aesthetic principle. In one section of his Mass, consisting of only four bars,
he presents his chosen theme, enriched by all the resources available to
modem harmony, though he uses these resources with restraint and dignity,
underscoring the nature of the composition which is before everything else
primarily and essentially liturgical. In the first and third Kyrie, in the finale
of the Gloria and of the Agnus Dei, he introduces two trombones that soar
high above the strains of the organ with the echo of Don Bosco' s melody,
thereby attaining a haunting and deeply moving effect.
We are sure that many of the people to whom this little song by Blessed
Don Bosco was already familiar felt profoundly touched when they heard
it again in such a novel and richly varied presentation.
Now we shall proceed with a brief, conscientious analysis of this
impressive composition.
In the Missa XIX, the voices blend in perfect semblance of choral
counterpoint, but, for the most part, the organ is independent of the choir,
and attains powerful, explosive effects in a richly varied, instrumental
phonic pattern of intricate detail in the overall counterpoint and individual
timbre.
The basic theme is presented in its entirety for the first time at the finale
of the first Kyrie, as we already said. It is then followed by the Christe solo,
alternated between soprano and tenor; it soars above the rest of the choir
in thematically disconnected phases which are then woven together, and
intensified by the four voices of the soloists. The theme of the initial Kyrie
is then resumed and more accentuated, being strengthened by a richly hued
chromatic counterpoint, the theme of Don Bosco's Christmas carol, which
returns once again in a higher key, enhanced by the full-throated sonority
of the organ and the brass reinforced and reinstated in octaves. The Gloria,
too, begins with Don Bosco' s theme, on the joyous notes of Et in terra pax!

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The harmonious melodies of the organ in Laudamus Te are effective
and appropriate in their haunting, contemporary idiom.
If we were to go into greater detail, we might allude to the spirit that
inspires these passages, both before and after the Gloria, but we do not
want to expose ourselves to the risk of being misunderstood, so we tum
our attention, instead, to the new presentation of the basic theme in its
different guise, as intoned by the organ two bars prior to the commencement
of Domine Fili. The salto of a fourth at the beginning of Don Bosco' s theme
is one of the many resources exploited in a masterly fashion by Maestro
Pagella.
In the melodic pattern woven in octaves by the adult male and adole-
scent voices in the Qui sedes and Quoniam, there are several exciting
highlights that are of interest to the disciples of the contemporary idiom
of Music, and who endorse it in sacred music, too.
In this connection, we might say that there is a hint of the great Cesar
Franck's Beatitudes at this junction.
The Cum Sancto begins on Don Bosco' s theme in a tonal fugue, which
is built in a manner that some might describe as scholastic, but in our
opinion it is very appropriate because, with the double pedal of the organ
at the fifth of the basic tonality, and the rhythm of the full main theme
sounded by the brass, it completes the majestic structure with dramatic
sonority of richly hued texture. The voices are skillfully manipulated,
though at times, the soprano voices especially soar to almost hazardous
heights; this is permissible, however, when the composer has a large,
well-trained choir at his disposal. For it enhances the richness of variation
and movement in the finale of the second part of the Mass. The composer
preferred a simpler pattern for the Credo, almost as though he wished to
offer a respite after his earlier stylistic subtleties. He sets aside the theme
of Don Bosco's song for the Gregorian motif, which is first introduced
fragmentarily by the organ. Several monadic phrases then pass succes-
sively from the bass register to the tenor and contralto voices. As we
already said, the style is simpler at this juncture; the portamento smooth,
the modal structure of both is without affectation.
The Et Incarnatus, which begins with a haunting passage of the bass,
alternates with the subdued, homophonic responses of the chorus. At the
Cruci.fixus, the four soloists prevail, and then the choir again takes over in
full sonorous strength at the Resurrexit, continuing till the brilliant finale
of Cuius regni non erit finis. Here the fragmentary Gregorian theme of
Credo in unum Deum, which was first introduced at the beginning by the

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organ, is resumed in a progressive crescendo to the harmonious unison of
Et unam sanctam catholicam and the Confiteor unum baptisma, to which
the sweeping chords of the organ confer a severe majesty.
Now comes the finale: At the Et vitam venturi saeculi we hear the Credo
theme once again, this time in its entirety, in a poignantly eloquent, sono-
rous exultation. The eight bars, which repeat this famous Gregorian theme,
are simple but incisive, and an impressive and effective Amen follows them.
Yet, in our opinion, the style and structure of the Credo is only a
parenthesis inserted by the composer in the first two parts of the Mass, for
at the Sanctus, Pagella reverts to his former musical structure: that of the
Kyrie and the Gloria, where, at the beginning, we hear the theme of Don
Bosco' s Christmas song once again. The organ gives the first hint of it, and
initially the voices are no longer four, but eight, divided into two sections,
(soloists and choir), all governed with polyphonic mastery. The melody
swells with limpid beauty and overwhelming unison at the words Pleni sunt
caeli et terra. This is followed by the Hosanna, formed by two different
themes interwoven; these then alternate, to yield at last to a vocal diminu-
endo of great simplicity and restraint. A melisma on the organ is inserted
here in one of the vocal parts, to weave upward through the diminuendo
and progress by degrees until it fades into a limpid, distant chord.
The choir in an austere, homophonic, richly expressive vein softly
echoes the Benedictus, which is intoned by the tenor and continued by the
bass. Then the identical theme of the Hosanna is resumed in a throbbing,
sonorous gamut, where the resonant bass voices become audible on a high
note that is maintained, as though in support of the soprano voices that
execute an airy vocalization resembling the soaring flight of a soul toward
an azure sky and the infinite expanse of Eternity.
Then for the Agnus Dei, the composition returns to the greater simpli-
city which preceded it. With a tranquil progression, the alternating voices
of the choir fade softly before a fifth solo, contralto voice, which continues
melodically until the entreaty of the Miserere nobis, which, in its turn,
yields, first to bass, then to soprano. At last, the masterly counterpoint
design with four voices is resumed, until, on a note sustained by the choir,
the little theme which links our prayerful suppliant soul to the great soul
that now roams free in the infinite realm of Immortality, before the eternal
throne of the Almighty, is repeated very softly by the trombones, like a
wistful, solemn, yet peaceful commemoration.
Now let us sum up our overall impressions.

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As a whole, there are qualities in this Missa XIX by Maestro Pagella
which we feel should be revised again rapidly, to enable us to deal with
the outstanding characteristics of the artistic temperament of this eminent
composer.
We feel that whenever he embarks on a broad polyphonic venture to
enrich it with brilliant hues, he enters the environment and spirit most
ideally attuned to his personality and personal aesthetic goals. Hence the
finest passages in the "Mass in honor ofBlessed Don Bosco" are the Kyrie,
the Gloria, and the Agnus Dei.
When he resorts to a simpler pattern which seeks its effective expres-
sion forms, that is, in a genuine inspiration stripped of masterly counter-
point, he finds himself hampered by the restrictions and limitations of
liturgical music, which has informed the more renowned and more widely
executed repertories ofthe past decade, even though he still pursues a noble
and dignified course. Many musicians attained great fame with this reper-
toire, even though they never succeeded in scaling the heights of aesthetic
beauty which are discernible, eloquently expressed, and rendered in the
finest passages of Maestro Pagella' s work, thanks to another and different
technique.
There is another thing we would like to add. Certainly, the execution
of Pagella' s Missa XIX entails problems, which stem not so much from the
rich polyphonic texture of the work, but from the intricate vocal design for
the soprano voices. The high A, and the intricate musical embellishments
on E and I have no parallel, not even in Palestrina's work, as far as we can
recall. The Salesian choir at the Church of Mary Help of Christians has
indeed been trained to cope with such vocal difficulties, but will other
choirs elsewhere be able to pass so arduous a test? We doubt very much
that they could.
Did Blessed John Bosco foresee that, one day, the musical phrase that
took shape almost unbeknown to him in his heart and on his lips in a
moment of holy, innocent joy so long ago, and led him to compose his
simple little melody, "Ah! Sing out in jubilation!" [Ah! si canti in suon di
giubilo!] when in a dream he had a glimpse of a fleeting vision of the mortal
world that looked to him for its regeneration did he foresee that it would
resound anew, in his honor, beneath the dome he had himselfraised to Mary
Help of Christians? Did Don Bosco foresee that his song would thus
resound, thanks to the artistic mastery of one of his brilliant disciples, to
find even deeper echo in the souls of the faithful who knelt in prayer beside

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the blessed mortal remains of him who has now been elevated to the glory
of the altars? No, he certainly did not!
Yet, in this hour of spiritual rapture, of superlative triumph, he must
surely be listening, somewhere in the immensity of Heaven that expresses
the supreme eternal glory of Almighty God, to the echo of his own voice
expressed by the many voices of his sons; and surely he must look down
on them with a paternal smile, to bless them and to exclaim again and again:
"Da mihi animas, coetera tolle!"
John Tebaldini
14
ANSWER WRITTEN IN THE POPE'S NAME
TO THE PERORATIONS AND SUPPLICATIONS
OF THE CONSISTORIAL ADVOCATES
FOR THE CAUSE OF DON BOSCO,
AND THAT OF THREE OTHER SERVANTS OF GOD
Quam pro amplissimo vestro munere digne perorastis causam, ea pro-
fecto eiusmodi est, ut Summi Pontificis mentem ad assentiendum summo-
pere commoveat. Etenim Beati caelites, de quibus agitis, quamquam instar
caeli siderum alii alio splendore in Ecclesiae fastis enitent, omnes tamen
ita virtutum laudibus excellunt, ita mirabilibus signis per eos a Deo patra-
tis refulgent, ut, quantum possit ac valeat ad sanctissime conformandos
animos ad resque praeclare agendas divinae Redemptionis opus luculenter
inde patefiat. Id siquidem egregie praestitere Beati confessores Joannes
Bosco et Pompilius Maria Pirrotti, qui non modo ad summum sanctitatis
fastigium omni nisu contenderunt, sed etiam pro sua cuiusque temporum
condicione iuventutem praesertim Christianis praeceptis Christianisque
moribus instituentes ad Iesu Christi regnum per se per suos amplificandum
tantopere elaborarunt. Id praestiterunt itidem Beata Michaela ab Augusto
Sacramento ac Beata Ludovica de Marillac, quae turbulentissimis aetatis
suae temporibus, cum divinae potissimum caritatis muneribus ac solaciis
indigerent homines, tam sollertem, atque impensam ad earn assequendam
deducendamque in usum dederunt operam, ut nullum prorsus esset aerum-
narum genus ab iisdem neglectum, quaelibet vero corporum animorumque
infirmitas pro facultate relevata.

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Cur igitur non exoptet Sanctitas Sua Beatos hos caelites sanctitundinis
diademate decorare eosque omnibus ad intuendum ad imitandum propo-
nere? Vult tamen, ut in re sane gravissima, quae cum intemerata catholi-
cae religionis integritate arcte coniungitur, tradita a maioribus instituta
nulla ex parte intermittantur. Quapropter necessarium autumat, antequam
inviolati magisterii sui sententiam dicat, semipublicum, quad vacant, haberi
Consistorium, in quo et Purpuratos Patres et eos omnes, qui aderunt, Patri-
archas, Archiepiscopos et Episcopos iudicium cuiusque suum de more roga-
bit. Atque per me interea vos admonet universos, ut ad uberiorem sibi
impetrandam supemi luminis copiam Sanctum Paraclitum Spiritum adpre-
cemini.
15
THE POPE'S ANSWER TO THE THREE PETITIONS
A INSTANTER - Dum nostra hac aetate victoriae palma, magno cum
admirantium plausu, iis interdum tribuitur, qui in causa vel nullo vel Jere
nullo praeconio digna primas obtinent, haec sollemnia, quibus christiani
herois nomen consecratur, videntur equidem non sine gravi monitu atque
exemplo celebrari. Tantum enim christianae sanctitudinis laudes fluxae ac
periturae hominum gloriae antecellunt, quantum terrae praestat pulcri-
tudine caelum, quantumque sempitemae beatitatis gaudia miseras cadu-
cae huius vitae voluptates exsuperant atque evincunt. Ut igiturper sollemnes
huiusmodi caerimonias, quibus iubilaris anni cursus decoratur eiusque augen-
tur salutaresfructus non tam ad germanae sanctimoniae praestantiam satius
altiusque reputandam, quam ad rectum atque arduum eius iter volenti animo
ingrediendum excitentur omnes, Beatissimus Pater vehementer exoptat. Id
profectofl.et per legitimam Ioannis Bosco consecrationem, a Romano Ponti-
fice peragendam; Ioannis Bosco, dicimus, Italiae totiusque Ecclesiae deco-
ris; Ioannis Bosco, qui non modo ad evangelicae peifectionis fastigium
totis virbus citatoque gradu contendit, sed tot etiam filios-florentem prae-
sertim aetatem christianis praeceptis christianisque moribus conformando-
Iesu Christo peperit.
Quapropter quad instanter perorando postulastis quodque innumera
beati huius caelitisfamiliafieri gestit suisque precibus maturavit, id benigne
excipere communibusque votis satisfacere percupit Sanctitas Sua. Vult nihil-
ominus ut antea, ex vetustissimo Apostolicae Sedis more, ad rem fauste
feliciterque definiendam, caelestis Curiae supplicatio a nobis omnibus inter-
ponatur.

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A INSTANTATIUS-Procul dubio admontae ad caelestemAulam preces
supplicationesque efficacissimae exstitere; procul dubio, quod nos cupimus
omnes, angelorum itidem sanctorumque agmina exoptant; ac Deo ipsimet
voluntas est novum hoc sanctitudinis omamentum atque exemplum mili-
tanti Ecclesiae dilargiri. Verumtamen, quamquam nullus relinquitur ambi-
gendi locus beatum Ioannem Bosco sempitema in caelis beatitate pe,frui,
quam, divina aspirante gratia, per sanctissima rerum gesta promeruit, per
me nihilo secius edicit Beatissimus Pater velle se, antequam inerrans edatur
oraculum, Supemi Spiritus lumen, ad rem religiosissime peifeciendam, sibi
ab omnibus concilietur.
A INSTANTISSIME - In hac rerum hominumque maiestate, quae
caelestis Aulae fulgorem refert divinosque concentus, eventum mox visuri
sumus, quod in Dei gloriam communemque salutem maximopere conferet.
Etenim, nulla iam interposita mora, Iesu Christi Vicarius optatissiman
fallique nesciam sententiam suam laturus est. Eam prona fronte gratoque
animo excipiamus; ac caelestia munera, quae hodie procul dubio e beati
huius caelitis manibus uberiora profluunt, cum nobis, tum laboranti Eccle-
siae conciliemus.
16
THE CANONIZATION FORMULA
Ad honorem Sanctae et individuae Trinitatis, ad exaltationem fidei
catholicae et christianae Religionis augumentum, auctoritate Domini
Nostri Iesu Christi, Beatorum Apostolorum Petri et Pauli ac Nostra,
matura deliberatione praehabita et divina ope saepius implorata, ac de
Venerabilium Fratrum nostrorum S.R.E. Cardinalium, Patrarcharum,
Archiepiscoporum et Episcoporum in Urbe exsistentium consilio, Beatum
Ioannem Bosco Sanctum esse decemimus et definimus, ac Sanctorum
catalogo adscribimus; statuentes ab Ecclesia universali eius memoriam
quolibet anno, die natali illius, nempe die XXX.I Ianuarii, inter Sanctos
Confessores non Ponti.fices pia devotione recoli debere. In nomine Patris
et Filii et Spiritus Sancti.
17
THE HOLY FATHER'S HOMILY
Venerabilis Fratres ac dilecti Filii,

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Geminata hodie perfundimur laetitia ac Nobiscum universa afficitur
Ecclesia, quod victoriam ex mortis et ex inferorum potestate a Iesu Christo
partam celebramus, quodque hodie Nobis licuitpraeclaris virisfeminisque
non paucis, per huius anni sancti decursum ad sanctitudinis honores evectis,
sollemnem hanc Ioannis Bosco consecrationem quasi in cumulum adiicere:
Ioannis Bosco, inquimus, quem paucis abhinc annis in Beatorum numerum
rettulimus, quique iuventutem Nostram-gratum adhuc subit recordatio ani-
mum-non modo adspectu suo suoque alloquio recreavit, sed per mira-
bilium etiam rerum gesta virtutisque praestantiam in sui admirationem rapuit.
lamvero, quamvis eius vita tot sit egregie factis referta atque illustrata, ut
vex queat adumbrari paucis, cupimus tamen haec, quae praecipua Nobis
videntur, admirationi imitationique vestrae proponere.
Divinae gloriae animarumque saluti procurandae omnino deditus, ex
Dei esse voluntate f aciendum, id, etsi temerario ausu dignum videbatur,
nulla aliorum diffidentia distractus, ac vias etiam rationesque animosus
ingressus, quas nova induxerat aetas, ad effectum deducere enitebatur. ltaque,
cum pueros, per urbis vias vagantes, pene innumeros vidisset, a parentibus
derelictos omnique cura destitutos, eos ad se paterno animo vocavit; eosque,
per opportuna omne genus oblectamenta ipsorum animis potitus, et catholi-
cae religionis praeceptis imbuit, et ad iisdem praeceptis per virtutis discipli-
nam perque crebriorem sacramentorum susceptionem sese conformandos
allexit atque permovit. Nostis profecto quantum utilitatis iuventuti recte
instituendae et a vitiorum illecebris revocandae ex huiusmodi instititus,
quae Festiva vocantur Oratoria, sit ortum; quae quidem Oratoria non modo
Augustae Taurinorum condidit et in vicinioribus urbibus atque oppidis, sed
ubicumque etiam, quo suam invexit religiosam familiam. Praeterea, cum
frequentissimae huic adulescentium iuvenumque turbae honestum vitae genus
impertire cuperet, quo iidem et sibi possent etfuturae proli consulere; ilia
constituit domicilia, in quibus ipsi exciperentur, et ad fabriles artes addi-
scendas, cuique consentaneas, praepararentur. Neque iuventuti defuit lit-
teris humanioribusque disciplinis deditae, in cuius commodum multa collegia
condidit, in quibus eadem tuto itinere ad altiorem etiam, si vellet, doctri-
nam adipiscendam contendere et, bene morata, in spem Ecclesiae Natio-
nisque suae succrescere posset.
Quam ad rem animadvertendum est idcirco Ioannem Bosco, in puer-
orum iuvenumque animis.fingendis educandisque, felicissimos edidissefruc-
tus, quod germanam eam veri nominis educationem alacri perspicacique
animo suscepit, quam catholica Ecclesia tantopere commendat, quamque
Nosmet ipsi, occasione data, saepenumero commendavimus. Illam nimirum

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quae evangelicis praeceptis praeclarisque Iesu Christi exemplis imbuitur
tot per omnesque venas alitur; illam, qua, christiana religione virtuteque
duce, ita iuveniles rediguntur ac componuntur mores, ut omnino digni eva-
dant, quos et terrestris patria dilaudet, et caelestis tandem aliquando non
periturae coronae praemio remuneretur. Illam denique, quae si corporis
vires exercet, et animum potissimum-inconditos inordinatosque eius motus
compescendo et ad virtutis convertendo studia-con.firmat atque conrobo-
rat; quaeque, si humanas omnes disciplinas, adpraesentem vitam excolen-
dam omandamque opportunas, discipulis impertit, at quod est praecipuum
non neglegit, Creatoris nempe ac Remuneratoris Dei doctrinam atque Eccle-
siae praecepta.
At non heic consistit neve laxatur alacer eius animus, sed, supema
caritate compulsus, quam condiderat religiosorum hominum ac mulierum
familiam, eam, mirabili quodam modo ob divinae gratiae opem magis usque
magisque increbrescentem, per universum mittit terrarum orbem, evangelii
lucem christianumque cultum laturam. Quae tota tantaque incepta atque
opera dum Noster instituit ac peifkit, non ex humanarum rerum defectione
neque ex aliorum diffidentia atque irrisu concidit animo, sed caelestifretus
auxilio, ulterius cotidie tranquilla serenaquefronte progreditur. Quodsi inter-
dum suscepta ab se in animarum bonum consilia in dijficultates se illidere
videbantur, quae humana ope devinci non possent, hilaris atque erectis in
caelum oculis, dicere sollemne habebat: "Dei optatum est, atque adeo ex eius
voluntate faciendum; quapropter ipsimet quodammodo officio est neces-
saria adiumenta suppeditare. "Atque ita, praeter omnium exspectationem,
res ad laetum exitum adducebatur; hominumque sugillationes in commu-
nem admirationem commutabantur.
Quern igitur, venerabiles frates ac dilecti .filii, christianae sanctitatis
heroem, per praecipua animi sui lineamenta, venerationi vestrae propo-
suimus, in eum omnes, studiosae imitationis causa, intueantur. /ta enim,
eo auspice eoque deprecatore, profecto.fiet ut, quam Jesus Christus rettulit
de mortis deque tenebrarum potestate victoriam, eam nos quoque omnes
feliciter assequamur; utque, a peccatorum servitute liberati sempitemaque
in caelis beatitate fruituri, paschale canticum una fide unaque voce conci-
namus omnes:
Ut sis perenne mentibus
Paschale, Iesu, gaudium,
A morte dira criminum
Vitae renatos libera. Amen.

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18
THE CANONIZATION HYMN
Look down, Don Bosco-o'er these streets
Once filled with blasphemous throng-formerly a disdained refuge;
Whence, in anguish, thou went forth
To seek the first boys-the conquest for which thou didst yearn.
In joyous thrill, an infinite crowd
Of young hosts, gathered around Thee, at Thy heels;
'Tis the infinite flock, once seen in thy dreams
That now ardently acclaims thee, Apostle and Father!
Look down, Don Bosco-o'er these streets
Once filled with blasphemous throng-formerly a disdained refuge;
Whence, in anguish, thou went forth
To seek the first boys-the conquest for which thou didst yearn.
The heavenly Queen didst summon thee by name,
When thou wast nine years old, to guide thee by the hand
Through thicket-strewn roads, to blaze a trail with blood,
And assemble the youthful host of thy sons.
Bells, ring in joy!
Festive notes, give echo!
Triumphant, the Father beholds once again
The youthful flock seen in his dream,
As once, in the glory of Christ resurrected,
He marshals anew the wayward souls,
Calls to them, 'mid twisted paths,
Obscure in the shadow of death.
He summons them to the magic spell of Faith.
Don Bosco, Don Bosco, master of our hearts,
Give us thy hand, and lead us to Our Lord.
A tremble, we raise Thee to the altar,
And to the world we shout, with echo infinite:
"He is our Master Who guided us to the Truth;
Who rescued us from Sin, and showed us the road to Life."

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403
Look down, Don Bosco-o'er these streets
Once filled with blasphemous throng-formerly a disdained refuge;
Whence, in anguish, thou went forth
To seek the first boys-the conquest for which thou didst yearn.
Thou earnest in our midst with countenance radiant,
Framed in the tender glory of thy smile,
A blaze of splendor crowns now thy brow,
Its rays come from God up there in Heaven.
Thy own Mother gavest Thou to us, to be our mother, too,
Mother of the Christian World, the Powerful Help.
Our souls didst nourish with bread divine
To feed, and fortify, the life that languished.
Look down, Don Bosco--o'er these streets
Once filled with blasphemous throng-formerly a disdained refuge
Whence, in anguish, thou went forth
To seek the first boys-the conquest for which thou didst yearn.
Onward, Don Bosco!-Mothers await thee now,
To entrust, in confident entreaty, their sons to Thee,
That thou bless them, and sign them with Christ's cross
That thou mayest look on them, with thy shining eyes,
As thou dost pass, exultant breaks
A roar of sound, as waves in a human sea,
A shout goes up, from hearts unanimous
Heed it, oh! Saint ... linger here with us!
Look down, Don Bosco-o'er these streets
Once filled with blasphemous throng-formerly a disdained refuge
Whence, in anguish, thou went forth
To seek the first boys-the conquest for which thou didst yearn.
19
URBIS ET ORBIS
Festum Sancti Joannis Bosco Confessoris ab universa Ecclesia cum
Officio et Missa propria celebrandum decemitur.

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
Decretum
Universo Christiano populo summae laetitiae fuit, quod sacro recur-
rente decimonono saeculo a salvifica Redemptione supremos caelitum
honores Beato Ioanni Bosco Summus Pontifex Pius Papa XI decreverit.
Quo ex tempore non Salesiana Familia tantum, sed et quam plurimae
dioeceses Eum veluti iuventutis patrem peculiari honore prosecutae sunt.
Succrescente vero in dies devotione, ut uberiores sanctitatis fructus in
fidelium praesertum iuvenum animis e.ffeorescerent, innumeri sacrorum
Antistites Summum Pontificem Pium Papa XI humillimis et instantibus
precibus rogaverunt, ut ad universam extenderetur Ecclesiam cultus tanti
viri, de re catholica optime meriti. Sanctitas porro Sua, referente infra-
scripto Cardinale Sacrae Rituum Congregationis Praefecto, in audientia
diei 25 marti 1936 vota tot S.R.E. Cardinalium, Archiepiscoporum et
Episcoporum benigne excipiens, Festum Sancti Ioannis Bosco, tamquam
confessoris non pontificis, ab universa Ecclesia sub ritu duplici minori cum
Officio et Missa huic decreto adiectis die 31 ianuarii celebrandum decrevit,
translato ad diem 28 ianuarii Festa S. Petri Nolasci confessoris. Contrariis
non obstantibus quibuscumque.
Datum Romae, ex Secretaria S. Rituum Congregationis, die 25 martii,
1936.
C. Cardinal Laurenti, Praefectus
A. Carinci, Secretarius

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405
DOCUMENTS AND EVENTS PRIOR TO THE
BEATIFICATION AND CANONIZATION OF DON BOSCO
I. TWO APPEAL LETTERS
These original letters are the property ofMrs. Benedicta Chinetto, nee
Terzago, domiciled in Bianze (Vercelli). She found them among the private
papers ofher uncle, Father Joseph Terzago ofBianze, who had been a pupil
at the Oratory during the last ten years ofDon Bosco's life. It has not been
possible to ascertain the identity ofthe Lady ofthe court, the Marchioness
to whom they were addressed, nor how the letters came into the possession
of the above-mentioned priest.
The lottery referred to in the first letter was the one to which Father
Lemoyne alluded in Volume V, page 169 andfollowing, ofthese Biographic
Memoirs. The crucialfinancial situation which obliged Don Bosco to limit
the number ofworkers so drastically while he was building the church of
Mary Help of Christians, was due to the economic upheaval caused by the
transfer of the capital and the preparations for the third war of Indepen-
dence (See Biographic Memoirs, the Italian Edition, Vol. 8, pp. 341 and
366).
A
Dear Marchioness:
I did not ask you to buy any lottery tickets thus far, because I felt that
it would be out of place, since you have already contributed so generously
to alleviate our predicament. But it now occurs to me that you might be
able to sell a few of the tickets to the Royal Personages who are presently
among us, so I am sending you 30 tickets and recommend them warmly
to your charity and to that of anyone whom you may consider properly
disposed to hear about it.
There is plenty of time, as you know, and any tickets that you do not
dispose of can be returned to the headquarters of the lottery.
All the funeral Masses and prayers which will be said here tomorrow
will be offered up for your intentions, and for the Marquis. Please direct
them in whatever way you deem best in the Lord.

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May all the Saints in Paradise bestow a special blessing on you and
on your esteemed family. I am honored to remain,
Very gratefully yours,
Your humble servant,
Rev. John Bosco
Turin, November 1, 1855
B
Dear Marchioness:
Mary Help of Christians is appealing to you, Madame Marchioness;
the construction on the church is progressing very well, but I now have only
eight men working, instead of thirty, because of the lack of funds. This is
the most favorable season for building, too.
People have made many promises and given me reasons to hope, but
everything is delayed. If you intend to make a loan to Our Lady, this would
be the most propitious time to do so, and I am sure that you will be paid
a much higher interest rate than the legal 5%.
Please speak to the Marquis about it, and then do whatever you can
for the greater glory of God.
I shall be at home on Monday from early morning until ten o'clock;
then again from one o'clock until three p.m.
May God bless you and your whole family. Believe me to be,
1hrin,April21, 1866
Your most grateful servant,
Rev. John Bosco
II. FIVE LETTERS TO BISHOP MASNINI
Bishop Santo Masnini, who had been made prelate thanks to a good
wordfrom Don Bosco, had become a close friend ofthe Saint while he was
working as secretary to Bishop Ferre ofCasale. He was born at Belgioioso
(Pavia); he died at Terlizzi (Bari), where he is buried. He founded the
Congregation of the Handmaidens of the Sanctuary. The first of these
letters was written to him in Rome at the time of the Vatican Council.
The originals are in the possession of: (] st letter) Dr. Nullo Martini,
of Fidenza; (the 2nd and 4th) the Salesians of Fidenza; (the 3rd) Rev.
Celsus Ghiozzi, archpriest of Zibello (Parma); (the 5th) in the Salesian
archives in Turin (File No. 1188).

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407
A
Minor Seminary of Mirabello Monferrato
Most Dear Canon:
Just as I hoped, I have found a bit of time to write to you here at
Mirabello. Please be so good as to read the letters awaiting me at the post
office, and if you happen to come across some important matter, please send
it to me; otherwise you can bury all of them.
Thank you for your interest on my behalf, and for the trouble you go
to in offering to help the upkeep of our Houses.
Please try to promote The Catholic Readings and the Italian Library.
I live and work for these books: the Holy Father blessed them and recom-
mended that they be sold far and wide. You might discuss the matter with:
Count Vitelleschi, Marquis Villarios, Countess Calderini, and the President
of Tor de' Specchi.
I saw Giannino Ferre and he is in good health; he is worried about his
vocation. I advised him to pray, and to behave himself. Then we may be
able to help him to come to a decision.
The whole of the Minor Seminary joins me in wishing you and our
Bishop the blessings of Heaven. I am, very affectionately
March 11, 1870
Your grateful servant,
Rev. John Bosco
B
Oratory of St. Francis of Sales
Very Dear Bishop:
In addition to all my other troubles this year, I now have to obtain the
exemption from military service for fifteen clerics. Could you help me in
any way?
Anything you can do will be much appreciated. There are still a couple
of month's time in which to act. See how this petitioner goes around
pestering people! Please bear with me.

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
May God shower all His Bounty on you. Pray for this poor human
being, who remains in Jesus Christ,
Your humble servant,
Rev. John Bosco
October 3, 1873
P.S. Please give my humble respects to your Mamma and the family.
c
Very Dear Bishop:
Countess Bricherasio is very upset because she had imagined that the
matter concerning her was already settled.
So please be so kind as to read the two letters of the Rector of Fubine,
and then let me know if there is anything that needs to be done.
I have just now returned home from a round trip that took me as far
as Marseille. How many things there are to tell you! I hope we will have
the chance to get together and talk.
Best wishes to you, and to the Bishop. Please tell him that we always
want to be his sons, and that everything we have is his without any
reservation.
Pray for me, and have ready a little money full of Marengoes, or a big
roll of bank notes, for our undertakings. Although bank notes are very ugly
looking, I shall still welcome them as a national product.
Always in Jesus Christ,
Your affectionate friend,
Rev. J. Bosco
Turin, 3-28-77
D
Dear Bishop Masnini:
On many occasions you have told me: 'If only I could be free of my
present duties, I would instantly fly and join the Salesians.' So when are
you coming?

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Appendix
409
Your room is waiting for you here in Turin and elsewhere, and we shall
always find a place for you at table, too. Well, now? I look forward to seeing
you soon.
May God bless you. Pray for this poor human being who remains
always, in Jesus Christ, your brother and
Affectionate friend,
Rev. John Bosco
Vignale, October 12, 1879
P.S. I am at Vignale today, but I shall be leaving for Turin tomorrow, and
will be staying there for good.
E
Very Reverend Bishop Masnini:
Marquis Del Pezzo will call on you on my behalf, to discuss something
with you. Please do what you can so as to reach a favorable conclusion.
This will also be sure to please Canon D'Avanzo very much.
God bless our undertakings. Believe me in Jesus Christ,
Your affectionate friend,
Rev. John Bosco
Lanzo Torinese, September 15, 1880
ill. FOUR LETTERS ADDRESSED TO MSGR. SCIANDRA,
BISHOP OF ACQUI
The originals are now in the archives of the Secretary of State in the
Vatican, where they were sent after we had made copies of them.
A
Most Reverend Excellency:
One of the clerics studying here with the intention of joining our
Congregation, Joseph Biodo, is making an appeal to you through me for
a certificate which he needs to present to the military draft board, so as to

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
obtain an exemption from military service. The clerics of the Turin Diocese
obtained this certificate from our Archbishop, or from the Bishops of their
home Dioceses. He appeals to your goodness to obtain it from you.
I do not know if you have had the opportunity to read about this new
law. In regard to our case, you would have to declare that N.N. belongs
to the Diocese of Acqui; that he is a Catholic; that in preparation for the
ecclesiastic life he is now attending the first course in Philosophy here at
the Oratory of St. Francis of Sales in Turin. We shall then have the Mayor
ofTurin confirm your statement and shall refer it to the military draft board.
How often have I thought about calling on you! But actually I could
never do it! Would you not come here sometimes to honor us by your visit
and celebrate Mass in the church of Mary Help of Christians? We are
waiting for you and look forward eagerly to seeing you.
While we pray that God may assist you in the serious task of your holy
pastoral ministry, we recommend ourselves to your charitable prayers, and
implore your blessing, especially on him who in his insignificant condition
is honored to remain,
Your devoted, humble servant,
Rev. John Bosco
Turin, 4-5-'72
B
Most Reverend and Dear Bishop:
I was deeply saddened by the unexpected death of our good Father
Pestarino. I have immediately sent Father Bodratto, because he is from the
same area and is acquainted with all that pertains to the deceased. I had
in mind to have Father Joseph Cagliero, who is now Spiritual Director at
our school in Varazze, take his place. He is thoroughly reliable both as far
as morals and learning, and is a talented preacher. But I would like to have
your holy opinion first.
It is understood that our House of Mornese is always at your service,
whenever you feel like enjoying a little rest in the countryside. May I also
ask that you continue to extend your kindness and your paternal authority
to that House, as you have done until now.
I hope to have an outing to that House before long.

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411
We beg you remember us all in your charitable prayers; I am, very
gratefully,
Your most sincere servant,
Rev. John Bosco
Turin, 5-22-'74
c
Most Reverend Excellency:
I should have thanked you before for your recommendation on behalf
of the well-known projects. But the continuous uproar has literally stolen
my time. Everything is now under control, and the Holy Father was quite
satisfied with everything. I am most grateful to your Excellency, and thank
you with all my heart! But now I need to ask you for another favor.
The cleric, Joseph Bovoir, (sic) who is a schoolteacher at Mornese, has
completed his studies and has joined our Congregation definitively. He is
endowed with all the necessary qualifications required for ordination, so
I would like to apply, or to request that he be admitted, to receive the
Tonsure at the forthcoming ordination ceremonies.
He has a companion, the cleric Francis Campi. Both Father Cagliero
and Father Costamagna assure me that he is sufficiently knowledgeable.
His morality is of an heroic degree.
Please note that I am asking only that he receive the Tonsure with the
four minor orders; you would have all the time you need to make any
observation you think necessary, before admitting them to the Holy Orders.
I know that this petition comes tardily, and I would have postponed the
matter until September, but the school and the town as well have an urgent
need of a teacher who is also a priest, and I do not have one available. If
it would be more convenient for you, choose any Sunday you like, and let
me know; it would make no difference.
I would like to talk with you in person soon; I need to ask for your
advice!
In the meantime, please accept my feelings of sincere gratitude, and
may I ask you to give me your blessing, and believe me to be, in Jesus
Christ,
Your humble servant,
Rev. John Bosco
Turin, 5-11-'75

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D
Most Reverend and Dear Bishop:
Don Bosco was born to try the patience of many people, but especially
the patience of your Excellency. I have neglected my duty toward you
because of a physical indisposition, and a number of urgent matters requir-
ing attention.
Let me first tell you that Piccagno, the cleric, has not yet completed
his triennial vows, so I do not think there is the case or reason to suspend
him. Additionally, his triennial vows expire in September. At that time he
will be making his retreat and after that he will be quite free to renew his
vows or to return to his own Ordinary.
Since he lives at Varazze, I am unable to give you details about his
conduct. But on the whole, it has been pretty satisfactory; at present how-
ever, his vocation for the priesthood does not seem to have all that is required.
He is quite talented in his studies and could be successful, if he would only
dedicate himself strictly to the studies that concern him. At the proper time,
I shall send you a report with the marks he got in his studies, and the marks
given him for his piety during his term here as a cleric, as well.
I'm always thinking about making a trip to Strevi,3 and long for the
time when I will be able to spend a few days there, because it would do
a great deal of good, both to my soul and my body, but I do not know when
this will be possible. Nevertheless, I am most grateful for your invitation,
and sooner or later intend to take advantage of it.
I accept the cleric you mentioned, and you could send him to Sampi-
erdarena whenever possible. There he will receive assistance from our wise
and prudent Director, Father Paul Albera.
I humbly beg you to bless me and to remember me in your charitable
prayers, while, with deep gratitude and esteem, I am honored to be,
(Turin) 7-1-78
3 The Bishop of Acqui had a villa at Strevi.
Your most devoted servant,
Rev. John Bosco

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413
IV. A PLEASANTRY IN VERSE
Father Edward Mac Kiernan was one of the very first Irishmen who
became Salesians at the Oratory. He died in 1888 in London, in the first
House that was opened in that city by Don Bosco in 1887, and was the
pastor and Director there. He was only 27 years old. At the time when Don
Bosco wrote him this delightful greeting from Rome, he was still a cleric
at the Oratory.
Dear Mac Kiernan:
Dear Edward:
Do let me know
Why in writing letters
You are so slow.
May the Lord bless you
And
Show you mercy too
I always pray for you
Well, do that for me, too.
Affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Rev. John Bosco
Rome, 1-22-'77
V. A LETTER WRITTEN TO A LADY
An attorney named Bassetti, of ForU, owns the original letter, which
he found quite accidentally among waste papers. In his postscript, Don
Bosco sends his regards to the Burlamacci family, who lived in London.
Dear Madam:
Certainly, your son is in a sad predicament. Age, learning, and wealth
are all terrible snares used by the Devil to drag to a spiritual and physical
ruin so many imprudent young men. In such cases, a Christian mother:
1. Should use great kindness; she should accompany her son
everywhere he goes, if he allows her. Reason with him and
urge him to receive the Sacraments, to listen to sermons, and
to read good books. She should be patient, if he does not heed
her; she should keep on doing what she has to do.

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
2. If she wishes, she could tell him very resolutely that if he does
not mend his ways, he will only shorten his own life span, and
perhaps ...
3. She should do all she can to have her son join his relatives,
or other respectable people, and keep him away from bad
companions.
4. She should pray to God and to St. Monica.
I, too, insignificant as I am, shall say special prayers to Mary Help of
Christians for him.
I am in great need of your spiritual and corporal charity. I have at hand
an immense harvest to reap; many souls could be saved, but I do not have
the material means to do it.
May God bless you and your whole family. Pray for me, too, who will
always remain in Jesus Christ,
Your humble servant,
Rev. John Bosco
Turin, 11-11-78
P.S. My warmest regards to the Burlamacchi family, if they are still to be
found there.
VI. A NOTE FROM DON BOSCO
This letter was addressed to Nice Maritime, probably to the local
Director of that House. But there is no indication at the top of the letter.
Countess de St. Paulet, when she passes through Nice, wishes to talk
to you about finding a domestic maid. Help her if you can, I beg you.
You will hear from her news about us. Please bear in mind that this
lady is one of the most zealous members on the Ladies Committee for
Navarre and St. Cyr.
I will always be in Jesus Christ,
Your affectionate friend,
Rev. John Bosco
Turin, June 10, '80

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415
VII. DON BOSCO'S LETTER ADDRESSED TO FATHER PAUL
ALBERA
This undated letter was probably written in 1884, the year of the
cholera epidemic and of the "antidote" which was widely distributed. On
August 16th, Don Bosco wrote from Pinerolo to Mrs. Magliano: "Our
antidote is reliable." The plague raged once again in 1885, but the "anti-
dote"was no longer distributed. On November15, 1884, he wrote to Father
Paul Albera from Turin: "/ am afraid that the plague will visit us again
next year. But I do not feel that I can promi~e that it will not molest us. "
The cholera did flare up again during the summer of 1885. Yet on
January 31st Don Bosco had said: "Last year I was able to assure you,
with absolute certainty, that the medals of Mary Help of Christians that
you wear would protect you, if the stipulated conditions were fu,lfilled. But
this year I do not know whether Our Lady means to be as merciful as she
was last year. " (See Biographic Memoirs, Vol. XVII, page 242.) The
original letter is in the possession ofthe Sisters ofMary Help ofChristians
in Turin.
Dear Father Albera:
This is a reliable "antidote" against cholera. Make your boys wear a
medal of Mary Help of Christians around their necks, and repeat this
ejaculatory prayer: "0 Maria, Auxilium Christianorum, ora pro nobis."
They must also go frequently to Communion.
Pass this "antidote" on to anyone you think should have it.
Please, forward the enclosed letter, with a little silver medal, to Mme.
Prat.
We are praying, so all of you should pray for us, too.
May God keep all of us in His Holy Grace. Amen.
Your affectionate friend,
Rev. John Bosco
VIII. AN EVALUATION OF DON BOSCO WRITTEN IN 1844
In the Salesian Archives (84-X[) there is a copy ofan interesting letter
written by a certain Mr. llluminatus Allamano to the Senator, Count Mola
de Larisse, who was a resident in Turin at that time and who later moved

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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
to Carignano, the birthplace ofthe Missionary, Father Charles Peretto. He
obtained the original on loan, and Father Berto copied it. The writer, who
must have been a professor, wrote on July 29, 1844, to the Count, to suggest
that he ask Don Bosco to prepare his son, Aloysius, for his examinations.
The following is the most significant passage of that letter:
If it is agreeable to you, I would send to you a friend of mine, who
is a priest. He comes from the same part of the country as I do (his name
is Don Bosco), and he has every single requisite necessary to be an excel-
lent priest. His virtue, learning, and immaculate way oflife all vie with each
other to make him beloved by the people who know him.
Such is the man I propose that you welcome to your noble household
where he would take my place; I do not need to recommend him in any
way, because once you meet him, I am confident that his merits will be a
far more effective recommendation.
IX. DON BOSCO'S STAY AT THE ESTATE OF THE
COUNTS OF CALLORI DI VIGNALE
The daughter of Count and Countess Callori, Countess Viry, wrote
about Don Bosco in an unpublished work of hers. From Undated Pages
(pp. 112-13):
He came to spend a few days vacation every year with my mother in
the country. He said Mass with angelic piety, but also took part very
good-naturedly in the games of the children, and ate with us at table. Both
at table and in the drawing room, he always behaved with great propriety
and distinction. It takes special tact and rare intelligence to behave impec-
cably in an environment and in a society different from the environment
and society in which one was born. Mediocrity rarely makes it and always
exposes its efforts to do so.
One day, they brought him a little girl of three who did not want to say
the whole of the Lord's Prayer. As soon as she reached the second half,
where it says "Give us this day our daily bread" she stopped, and nothing
could ever lead her to continue. Don Bosco did not scold her as she stood
before him, stubborn, yet refusing to cry because she was very proud. All
he said was this, and he said it quite simply and gently: "If you ask the
Our Lord for bread, you will see that He is so kind that he will send you
some chocolate and pastries, too." From that day on, the little girl always
said her Pater Noster through to the end.

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Eighteen years later, the same girl, now a young lady, asked the good
priest what he thought about a young man who had been introduced as a
suitor. He closed his eyes, recollected himself, and then he said very
simply: "I do not know the young man personally, but I know he has a good
soul." That statement was enough for me, and I really did find a noble soul
in that young man who became my husband three months later. But the
reverend never forgot the obstinate little girl when he met her again as a
young woman, for he said with a winning, mischievous air: "Now that you
have begun to say the whole Pater Noster, you see that Our Lord did send
you chocolate and pastries, too. So you must remember the poor, to whom
He sends only dry bread."
X. DON BOSCO'S PENETRATING GLANCE
This is an extract from a report written by Father Aloysius Terrone
about a long conversation he had with Father Peter Fracchia at the
Salesian School of Turin on November 1, 1937. The speaker is Father
Fracchia, who talks of the days when he was a pupil at the Oratory.
One day, as I was on my way to speak with Don Bosco, I met Father
Berto who announced my presence, saying: "Fracchia is here."-Don
Bosco said loudly: "Let Fracchia come in! I'm sure he is not in sin!"4
He was writing, and I sat down next to him, watching him attentively
to study a certain movement that he made while writing: he was turning
his head slowly from left to right, to accompany and follow the movement
of the pen across the page. I did not understand why he did this. I made
up my mind that I would take advantage of the easy familiarity he allowed
me to use toward him, and I asked him. As soon as he stopped writing, he
put down his pen, and folded his hands, one on the other, against his chest,
as he always did. I looked at him with a smile, and said frankly and with
great simplicity:
"May I ask you a question?"
"Of course speak up, my dear Peter."
"Why did you turn your head to accompany the movement of the pen,
as you were writing?"
Don Bosco smilingly answered: "This is the reason why. Do you see?
Don Bosco can no longer see with this eye, and with the other eye, he sees
only a little. Just a little, just a little."
4 Words rhymed by Don Bosco: Avanti venga Fracchia, che vuol sempre conservarsi senza macchia.

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"Do you mean to say that you can only see very little? Then how come
the other day, in the playground, when I was far away from you, you looked
at me with a look which was very direct and keen and penetrating like the
ray of sunlight?"
"Come, come now! All of you imagine and see God knows what .. .
big things, extraordinary things, where there is really nothing at all. ..."
That was all he said, and then we began to talk about the matter for
which I was there. But now to return to the topic of his glance. I was at
recreation in the playground one day. As usual, I was completely absorbed
in the game. At a certain point, I stopped for a while and heard very loud
voices of boys talking. I turned around and I noticed at a distance Don
Bosco, surrounded by a crowd of boys. There were a great many of them,
as there always were whenever Don Bosco came down into the playground,
and they were all talking loudly and merrily with him. Absorbed as I was
in the game that I was playing, I did not feel like joining them. So as I stood
in a state of uncertainty, I turned my eyes again towards the group where
Don Bosco was standing. Then, all of a sudden, a brilliant ray, which came
from his eyes, hit me, struck me. I really do not know how to describe it.
I was at least some thirty paces away from him, and was not even in direct
line with him, but at an angle. Don Bosco was literally besieged by the
boys; some of them were holding his hands. I recall that scene very clearly,
as though it had happened only yesterday. I say that it was a radiant ray
of sunlight shining like a ruby, a diamond, something quite unconceivable,
and like a flash of lightning. I was quite entranced by what I saw, and quite
instinctively, without knowing what I was doing, I approached the group.
As I reached him, I felt Don Bosco take my hand, although I had not even
tried to push my way through to him. I was not even aware immediately
that he had touched me, but he held my hand tightly, and continued his walk
without saying a word to me. He did not look at me, he did not say a word
to me. When his conversation was over, I took leave of him with all the
others, and never said a word to anyone about what I had seen.
XI. A MIRACULOUS RECOVERY
It is still Father Fracchia who speaks:
One day we were watching a soccer game in the playground. It was
a match between the students, and artisans, superiors, clerics, the shop
heads, and their assistants.5 I was not one of the players that day, but as
5 In those days the cleric novices and the students lived at the Oratory.

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a good player, or soccer fan as people say nowadays, I was deeply involved
as I watched the match. I had a fellow cleric student beside me. I cannot
recall exactly who he was now, but I am almost sure that it was Bonavia.6
While I was all caught up by the game, without anything else in mind,
I heard these words in my ear, very distinctly: "Go into the sacristy, because
Don Bosco is about to perform a miracle.'' I turned around, but saw nobody
except the cleric, my companion. I forgot both the game and the play-
ground. I tapped my companion on the shoulder and said: "Let's go into
the sacristy, because Don Bosco is about to perform a miracle." Then I
began to run very fast. I did not hear the footsteps of my companion
following me, so I turned around, very surprised that he was not coming
with me.
I reached the sacristy, or I had better say, the vestibule of the sacristy,
where Don Bosco heard confessions regularly. He was surrounded by a
group of ladies and gentlemen and was walking very slowly in the direction
of the sacristy itself. I joined the group almost instinctively, and walked
along with the others. Then, again without knowing how, I found that I was
walking on Don Bosco's left, amid all the others, and we all reached the
middle of the sacristy together.
All at once, we heard a loud noise behind us, and then a great outcry.
A poor woman was walking toward us, leading a little girl, ten or perhaps
twelve years old; the child's arm was paralyzed. As the mother reached Don
Bosco and showed him the little girl, she fell at his feet, and weeping,
implored him: "Don Bosco, cure my child who is now unable to move her
arm; please, cure her!" With the utmost naturalness, and in a simple voice,
Don Bosco turned to the girl and said to her:
"Well, well. Look now, do this. Make the sign of the cross."
"No, no!" screamed the mother, "she cannot do that. Her arm is
paralyzed; she is unable to move it."
"No, my daughter," Don Bosco said, with the same calm voice as
before. "Make the sign of the cross, just as I told you."
Again the poor mother tried to explain that the girl was unable to make
the gesture. Again Don Bosco repeated: "This is the way!" And with his
hand he motioned to the mother that she should keep quiet, while he urged
the child to do as he said.
In that instant I looked at Don Bosco, and I saw that his face was
transformed, that it had turned into a special color which I am quite unable
6 This was Father Juvenal Bonavia, a very learned, holy Salesian who died at the Battersea House in London.

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to describe. He looked utterly transfigured and gave his blessing to the child
who made a sweeping sign of the cross as he did so, without any effort
whatsoever. The mother was beside herself, filled with emotion, while the
people with us stared at her dumbfounded. Don Bosco now turned to the
mother, saying: "Now you'll go to the church, and say three times the
Pater, Ave, and Gloria to the Blessed Sacrament, and three times the Salve
Regina to Mary Help of Christians, in thanksgiving for the grace you have
received." Then he left the sacristy immediately with all the visitors. This
happened on the feast of Mary Help of Christians, during our after-break-
fast recreation.
As I emerged from the sacristy, still deeply impressed by the scene
which I had witnessed, I expected to hear everyone shouting about the
miracle. But no one said a word, and I thought no more about it. Later, I
looked at all the books about Don Bosco, to see if there was any mention
of that particular incident. But I never once found any reference to it. I did
read about a few other miracles similar to the one I had witnessed, but they
were not the same, because all the circumstances were quite different.
The thing that is even more incredible is that I never once thought to
ask my companion why he had not come with me; nor did I ever speak
about the incident to him. I have even asked myself many times if I really
heard that voice, and if I really did tell my companion to come with me.
But the whole thing is real, and I have not forgotten one single particular
of that event.
XII. DON BOSCO READS CONSCIENCES
Francis Alpi, a former pupil at St. John the Evangelist's and later infir-
marian at the Oratory, and lastly, a school teacher at Pagno (Saluzzo), told
Father Luchelli something which Father Luchelli immediately reported in
writing to Father Paul Albera on April 20, 1916. We quote now from his
letter:
Francis Alpi, a boy of 15 or 16, was accepted at the school of Alassio,
through the recommendation of a good priest of the diocese of Imola,
Father Nenci. Three or four days after he entered the school, he heard at
the good night talk that Don Bosco would be visiting Alassio on his way
to France, and that the boys who wished to make their confession to him
would have an opportunity to do so. Young Alpi had never heard anyone
speak about Don Bosco, and so he thought to himself: "It is better that I
make my confession to him, and make a general confession, since he is

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a priest coming from outside and will be staying here only a day or two
and then leave. Then I will avoid the need to make a confession later to
a priest of the House who will know who I am." So he made his confession
to Don Bosco the next morning, without knowing who he was. He began
his confession by asking the confessor to help him, and then told him all
the sins he was able to remember. When he had completed his confession
he did not know what else to say, so Don Bosco said: "You have forgotten
to mention the sin that you committed at such and such a place and at such
and such a time." He then went into the most minute details about some-
thing that Alpi had done when he was ten or eleven years old adding: "It
is true that you did not actually commit the sin, as your two companions
did, but you did sin in your thoughts, in your desire, and we offend God
even with our thoughts and desires, you know."
When the boy heard him say this, he was so amazed that he broke into
a cold sweat, and felt that he was about to faint, there at Don Bosco' s feet.
As soon as he finished his confession, he went in search of Father Cerruti,
and frightened and in tears, said: "Who is the priest to whom I just made
my confession? He must be either a devil or a saint. He told me a very secret
sin which I had completely forgotten about, nor did I think it was actually
a sin." Smiling, Father Cerruti explained who Don Bosco was, and sent
him away, reassured.
xm. DON BOSCO AT VELLETRI
Wherever Don Bosco went, he left behind an unforgettable impres-
sion. Until now, it was not known that he had also visited Velletri. But now,
Bishop Rotolo, the Auxiliary of the Cardinal Bishop there, has obtained
a reliable report of a visit that Don Bosco made to that city. We have no
way to determine the date. If he went there at the time when the Salesian
Houses were founded atAlbano andAriccia (1876-79), it may have occurred
in 1877. But Velletri residents say it was May 1882, when the centenary
of Our Lady of Grace was celebrated. Don Bosco was in Rome at that time.
He said Mass in the chapel of the Pious Venerine Schoolteachers. Mrs.
Elvira Pereno was a boarder in their school at that time, and attended his
Mass. She must have been deeply impressed by him, for many years later
she still recalled "how Don Bosco looked as he celebrated Mass." She also
remembered that the Mother Superior had told her in advance that he was
coming, saying that a great saint was soon to visit them. Don Bosco also
visited her own family. "We received him in our large drawing room," she

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writes, "and he lingered for a while in the dining room, giving his blessing
to us children. I can still see him in front of me."
The family that now lives in that apartment where Don Bosco had been
welcomed, attributed to the protection of the Saint the peace of mind, the
serenity, and the success enjoyed by all the children in the household.
He was a guest of Mr. Louis Francis Argenti, the maternal uncle of the
above-named lady, "a very religious man." Mrs. Anna De Angelis, wife of
the Colonel who was president ofthe Military Tribunal at Mogadisco, daugh-
ter of Mr. Argenti, and the diocesan president of the Catholic Women's
Association in Somaliland, wrote to the Bishop: "I was deeply moved when
I read the letter from Your Excellency; it came to me here, in my old age
and in this distant part of the Empire, to rekindle one of the most precious
and cherished memories of my long-ago childhood. Oh! the fatherly blessing
that was given me by the Great Saint John Bosco! I recall perfectly that
the Saint was my father's guest at our home when he came to Velletri, and
I can recall him vividly as he gave his blessing to us children, as we knelt
in front of him, almost in adoration."
Canon Vincent, Mrs. De Angelis' brother, who was a seminarian at that
time, was not present; but Don Bosco thought of him, too. He left a copy
of his History ofItaly for him, and his father chose to take it to him in person
and gave it to him with his own hands.
XIV. IN THE PRESENCE OF DON BOSCO
On September 2, 1911, atPraglia, the Benedictine monk, Father Gregory
Campeis, gave the following description ofan encounter he had with Don
Bosco. It occurred most probably at St. Paul's Basilica in Rome.
I shall always remember very vividly the immense feeling of venera-
tion I had when I first set eyes on Fr. Don Bosco (September 1883). I was
profoundly impressed to the depths of my soul by his affable smile, by his
composure, by his dignity seasoned with a most amiable demeanor, by his
ingratiating and well-chosen word. I never experienced the feeling that I
had for Don Bosco in the presence of any other important person, not even
in the presence of Popes Leo XIII and Pius X, who both honored me by
granting me private audiences. He made me think of sanctity personified.
XV. THE HEALING OF A MUTE
We received the following report from Varazze, September 8, 1937,
from Sister Mary Hope Forte, a Sister of Our Lady of Mercy.

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Twice did I have the good fortune to witness the arrival of Don Bosco
at our House in Varazze. The second time he went there, in 1886, he was
on his way back from Arenzano. Don Bosco was carried bodily to the
school from the station. A tall, elderly man from Arenzano walked close
beside him, and as he walked, he waved a white handkerchief shouting:
"Don Bosco healed me yesterday! I was dumb. I went to see him; I
explained with signs that I was mute, and I begged for a grace. He then
said to me: 'Repeat the Ave Maria together with me.' And I prayed." The
healed man followed Don Bosco all the way to the school.
XVI. DON BOSCO IN REIMS
We never knew that Don Bosco visited Reims. As ofnow, we have not
been able to ascertain the date ofhis alleged visit in 1883. A Jesuit priest,
Father Joumel, wrote the following letter to Father Auffray, after he had
read his book, "A Saint travels through France."
Reverend Father:
I am a Jesuit priest living in Lille (North), at 73 rue des Stations, very
near the Rue d' Antin where the Salesian Sisters work so well for the glory
of God. I was delighted when your interesting biographies of St. John
Bosco and Father Rua were published. Now Divine Providence has gra-
ciously put into my hands your book, "A Saint travels through France."
What a joy it is to skim through your edifying, picturesque descrip-
tions!
Do you know what attracted me in particular? Item No. 3 in the
Appendix, where you speak of his itinerary ... and this is the reason for
my interest.
I was sixteen, in 1883, and I was studying with the Jesuits at their school
in Reims. One day (was it May 26th?) our professor of Humanities, not
the sort of man to let any such opportunity pass him by, told us with an
air of great mystery that the renowned Don Bosco would be stopping over
in Reims between trains, to meet with Mr. Leon Harmel who was coming
especially from Val du Bois to greet him. He took us (or at least, some of
us) to the church of St. James, which is very near the station; that was where
they had arranged their rendezvous. Thus did I have the privilege to see
this extraordinary man for a few moments. His radiant sanctity attracted
an enthusiastic crowd. His demeanor commanded everyone's trust and
respect. It is one of the more cherished memories of my youth.

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In your wide research, did you ever find any reference to this brief halt
in the city of Reims? I would be very happy to know whether you did. I
am now 70 years old, so I am authorized to ramble a little; but on this point
my recollection is very clear.
Thanking you in advance, I am, with great esteem,
M. H. Journel, S.J.
Lille, November 19, 1937
XVII. A PREDICTION
Only afew months before he was barbarously slain by the Arabs, Father
Rosin, the Director of the House of Beitgemal, sent the following report
to Father Salvatore Puddu, Secretary General of the Salesian Society:
When I, the undersigned, was interned in Ankara, now the capital of
Turkey, in March 1918, an Armenian Catholic priest, Father Nerses Baghdi-
kian, who was then Armenian Patriarchal Vicar in that same city, told me
that he had been a seminarian in the Armenian Seminary in Rome, and that,
together with his companions, he had been granted an audience with Don
Bosco at the Hospice of the Sacred Heart, I believe he said, the last time
Don Bosco visited the hospice, when the Church was consecrated. At that
time, our Saintly Father was already in a state of physical deterioration
known to all. In order not to disturb him more that was absolutely neces-
sary, the seminarians had to content themselves with walking past him one
by one, just kissing his hand, without saying a word, without asking
anything more from him. Don Bosco was sitting with his head bowed, his
eyes downcast, his hands resting on his knees, but all at once, as one
seminarian was kissing his hand, he suddenly uttered these words, without
moving at all: "My son, get ready to enter Paradise." That cleric died
within that month.
Rev. Marius Rosin
Beitgemal
December 29, 1937
xvm. AN INTUITION AND A PROPHECY
On July 9, 1938, Sister Celestine, Mother General ofthe Sisters ofthe
Holy Eucharist (Via Pirot, No. 179, Sofia, Bulgaria), wrote the following
letter to Father Peter Ricaldone, the Rector Major:

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Our venerated Mother Foundress of Revered Memory, Sister Mary
Christina of Jesus, whose name in the world was Eurosia Alloatti, was the
daughter of the late Peter Alloatti of Turin. Before she came to Salonika
in Turkey to found our little convent for Bulgarian Slavs in 1888, she wished
to consult St. John Bosco about her exceptional vocation. Since she was
present at the meeting of the Salesian Cooperators on May 23, 1887, she
went with the rest of the crowd to kiss Don Bosco's hand in the sacristy.
Before she had a chance to reveal her secret wish to him, the Saint antici-
pated her words by saying: "Eurosia, you asked the Holy Vrrgin to give
you a sign about your vocation; well, she is giving you her answer through
me. You will come to see me for further explanations." She did not delay
her going to see him again, and the Saint assured her that it was the Will
of God that she should go to Salonika, to help her Missionary brother.
Together, they were to found a Congregation for Bulgarian Sisters, to help
Bulgarian Slavs, and he gave her much advice to follow. Before he dis-
missed her, he said: "You will come to see me again, before you set out
for your destination but I shall be unable to give you my blessing." His
prophetic words were fulfilled. Our Mother Foundress was due to depart
on February 3, 1888, so she called at the Oratory to receive Don Bosco's
last blessing, on February 1st. How astonished she was when she found
out that the Saint had died and that his body was laid out in the church for
the veneration of the faithful! She recalled immediately the prophetic
words he had pronounced: "You will come to see me again, but I shall be
unable to bless you." In reference to this historic event, our Venerated
Foundress made her deposition under oath for the cause of Don Bosco's
beatification.
XIX. AN ENCOUNTER WITH DON BOSCO ON A TRAIN
According to his confrere Richard Bona, Father Dame, a priest of the
Mission, told him the following story, which he then described in a letter
to Father Peter Berruti, the Prefect General ofthe Salesian Society (Turin,
December 15, 1938):
We left the Porta Nuova station together, bound for Genoa. However,
we did not know each other. The compartment we were in was rather
crowded, so we did not have a chance to do more than exchange the formal
courtesies used by traveling companions.
When we had passed Giovi and were at last alone, just the two of us
together, the priest who, till then, had prayed constantly or had turned the

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pages of a book, began to talk to me, and we embarked on a cheerful,
friendly conversation. He wanted to know if I came from Turin (he had
recognized me as a Priest of the Mission of St. Vincent by my habit), and
whether I knew anything of Don Bosco' s Institutes, what I thought of them,
and what we all thought about him and his little rascals, etc. I answered
that, in my opinion, Don Bosco was, undoubtedly a saintly priest, that I
admired what he was doing for boys, and that with his patience, I pictured
him as the Divine Savior must have been, in His preference for children
and the poor.... Evidently, these things moved him deeply, and led him
to insist even more on trying to sound out what I felt about his work. "But
haven't you heard people say that he is a bother, that he is forever looking
for money, that he snatches boys away from their parishes and homes?"
I replied that all innovations are easy targets for criticism, even though they
are good, and that perfection is to be found only in Heaven, and that
Cottolengo used to exclaim, whenever he sought some comfort in the midst
of adversity: "Just do good, and let people sing." Then our train steamed
into the station of Sampierdarena. My traveling companion rose to his feet,
and took hold of my nose very familiarly, pretending to pull it. As he did
so, he said: "Always speak well of Don Bosco! If you had spoken against
him I would have pulled your nose so hard that it would have stretched this
far!" And he touched my chest. In the meantime, the boys who were
waiting together with, perhaps, Father Paul Albera, down on the platform,
recognized him and began to shout: "Don Bosco! Don Bosco!" ... and
all came rushing towards him. We parted with a cordial handshake. I do
not know what kind of impression I made on him, but I must confess that
the opinion I then formed of him, as a man of exceptional holiness and
ability, became more and more firmly set in my mind.
XX. CONCERNING TWO MEETINGS BETWEEN DON BOSCO
AND VICTOR HUGO IN THE YEAR 1883
We already wrote of these meetings at length in Volume XVI, pages
156-63. In a letter that was published in the French issue of the Bulletin
in May 1935, Madame Lesclide, wife of Victor Hugo's secretary, denied
the story, but in his brief biography of St. John Bosco, published in 1938
"Saint Jean Bosco L'entreneur desjeunes" ("St. John Bosco, Teacher
of children" Paris, La Bonne Press), the Assumptionist, Rev. David
Lathour, makes several observations that strip her letter of all value.

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One of the reasons that led the poet to call on Don Bosco must have
been the shock felt at the death of his companion, Juliette Drouet. (Bio-
graphic Memoirs, Vol. XVI, p. 157).
Mme. Lesclide wrote: "As to the death of Juliette Drouet, who died
from a cancer of the stomach which caused her great anguish, her old friend
looked on her death more as a liberation than as a catastrophe." Father
Lathour then writes (page 185): Mme. Lesclide writes this in her letter
[October 18, 1929]. She forgets that in 1902 she wrote exactly the opposite.
This is what it says in Victor Hugo intime (Victor Hugo, An Intimate
Portrait), page 263: "This death made a deep impression on the poet. His
loss was such that the illustrious old man sought to disguise the fact even
from himself. 'The dead are not absent,' he used to say, 'they are only
invisible.' But his dead mistress seemed to be calling him from beyond the
tomb."
The author also finds another contradiction in her letter, in connection
with the alleged impossibility of a night visit. (Biographic Memoirs, Vol.
XVI, page 121).
Mme. Lesclide wrote: "In the house of Victor Hugo, dinner was at 8
o'clock; we left the dinner table around 9:30 P.M., and his guests never
departed until 11 or 11:30 P.M. This rule never varied. Now if this rule was,
indeed, unvarying, it is impossible to suppose that, as it says in the words
dictated by Don Bosco, that the poet called on him at 11 o'clock at night,
after waiting for three hours in the antechamber." Yet in her book (page
300) Mme. Lesclide wrote: "We left table at 8 o'clock. About 9:30, the
Master sat down in his big armchair and closed his eyes, and his guests
took leave." Our author then comments: "This timetable fits in with the
Salesian version, and one can believe that on this particular evening Victor
Hugo left the dinner table earlier than usual and, unbeknown to his dinner
guests, took advantage of the darkness, as Nicodemus did, to go incognito
to No. 12, rue Vill-l'Eveque, where he was admitted to Don Bosco's
presence after about three hours of waiting."
In 1902 the lady author seems to have had fresher memories than she
had in 1929!
In a footnote, Lathour adds: "She claims that Victor Hugo was a pure
deist. Now, she quotes the poet on this matter in her book, and from what
she says, it is obvious that he believed in God's discretionary intervention
in the universe (see pages 306-8)."

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XXI. A SOUVENIR OF A FIRST COMMUNION
In the library ofan old Lombard priest, now deceased, we came upon
a moth-eaten copy of a First Communion Souvenir, with the date hand-
written on it: April 1, 1863. It was printed by the Doyen Brothers of Turin,
who had a lithographic workshop. It was a remarkably framed with angels,
episcopal vestments, liturgical instruments, leafy branches, and flowers,
encircling the text, which, in place of a signature, was, signed with the
words "A friend of children. " We know for certain that this friend of
children was Don Bosco. At the top of the picture there was an altar, with
a chalice and a Host. The Host was surrounded by rays of light, with the
words "Bread that camefrom Heaven-Bread ofeternal life "written inside
the rays. At the bottom, in a rectangular section held by two kneeling infant
angels, there was a space for the name of the communicant, the date, the
church, and below, the exclamation: It was truly a heavenly day!
Here is the text:
SOUVENIR OF MY FIRST COMMUNION
Oh! Happy Day! Yes, dear children, dear boys and girls, treasure the
memory of this wonderful day. As a great General once said: The most
beautiful day of my life was the day I made my first Communion. Now,
would you like to sample the delights of such a beautiful day for the rest
of your lives? Then always bear the following things in mind:
Model of Virtue: Dominic Savio, who died a few years ago, was so
good, prudent, and devout even as a little boy, that he was allowed to
receive his
First Communion at the age of 7. In order to preserve the precious
fruits and tender recollection of such a beautiful day, he wrote these
Souvenirs in his little prayer book: I shall go often to confession, and
go to Communion whenever my confessor allows it. I shall keep all holy
days holy. My friends shall be Jesus and Mary. Death rather than sin.
Read these Souvenirs often, follow them for the rest of your lives.
How happy will you be! The day will come when you shall enjoy forever
in Heaven the joys and delights of your First Communion.
A Friend of Children

46 Pages 451-460

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46.1 Page 451

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429
Qlnuteuta
Chapter 1 (Epicedia) Funeral Eulogies
Chapter 2 How the Ordinary Process Began
for Don Bosco's Beatification and Canonization
Chapter 3 From the Ordinary Process in Turin to the
Roman Decree That Declared Don Bosco Venerable
Chapter 4 From the Apostolic Process
to the Decree on the Heroicity of Don Bosco
Chapter 5 The Miracles for Don Bosco's Beatification
Chapter 6 The "Tuto" Decree
Chapter 7 The Solemn Identification of Don Bosco' s Body
Chapter 8 Don Bosco' s Beatification in Rome
Chapter 9 The Transferral of Don Bosco' s Body
Chapter 10 Echoes of the Beatification
in the Words of the Holy Father, Pius XI
Chapter 11 The Cause Is Resumed
Chapter 12 The "Tuto" and the Consistories
Chapter 13 The Canonization
Chapter 14 Events That Occurred in Rome After the Canonization
Chapter 15 Echoes of the Canonization
in the Pronouncements of the Pope
Chapter 16 The Feast of Don Bosco's Canonization in Turin
Chapter 17 Some Particular Celebrations in Honor of Don Bosco,
the Saint
Chapter 18 The Fiftieth Anniversary of Don Bosco's Death

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430
Appeuhix nf mn.cumeuta
1. Inscriptions by Father Angelini, S.J. for Funeral Services of Don
Bosco in Rome
2. Inscriptions Written by Father Maurus Ricci, D.S.P., for Don
Bosco's Funeral in Florence
3. Letter to the Salesians of Nictheroy from the Archbishop of Rio
de Janeiro
4. Letter Addressed to Father Rua from the Bishop of Montevideo
5. Father Bonetti Is Appointed to Act as Postulator
6. Father Bonetti's Credentials as Postulator to the Archbishop of
Turin
7. The Iuramentum Calumniae of the Postulator
8. Father Rinaldi's Letter Addressed to the Cardinal Prefect of the
Sacred Rites
9. Canon Sorasi' s Letter Addressed to the Prefect of the
Congregation of Rites
10. Father Turchi's Letter Addressed to the Prefect of the Sacred
Rites
11. Don Bosco and the Conciliation
12. Don Bosco Returns
13. The Masses composed by the Maestri Antolisei and Pagella in
Honor of Don Bosco
14. Answer Written in the Pope's name to the Perorations and
Supplications of the Consistorial Advocates for the Cause of Don
Bosco, and That of Three Other Servants of God
15. The Pope's Answer to the Three Petitions
16. The Canonization Formula
17. The Holy Father's Homily
18. The Canonization Hymn
19. Urbis et Orbis

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431
inrumeuta auh 1£ueuta
Jrinr tn tqe ieatiftratinu auh
Qlaunuiiatinu nf inu iAnarn
I.
II.
ill.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
vm.
IX.
X.
XI.
XII.
xm.
XIV.
XV.
XVI.
XVII.
xvm.
XIX.
XX.
XXI.
Two Appeal Letters
Five Letters Addressed to Bishop Masnini
Four Letters Addressed to Msgr. Sciandra, Bishop of Acqui
A Pleasantry in Verse
A Letter Written to a Lady
A Note from Don Bosco
Don Bosco's Letter Addressed to Father Paul Albera
An Evaluation of Don Bosco, Written in 1844
Don Bosco's Stay at the Estate of the Counts of Callori
di Vignale
Don Bosco's Penetrating Glance
A Miraculous Recovery
Don Bosco Reads Consciences
Don Bosco at Velletri
In the Presence of Don Bosco
The Healing of a Mute
Don Bosco in Reims
A Prediction
An Intuition and a Prophecy
An Encounter with Don Bosco on a Train
Concerning Two Meetings Between Don Bosco and Victor
Hugo in the Year 1883
A Souvenir of a First Communion

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432
1Juhex
A
Accommodations: -1934 a. problems in
Turin during DB's canonization,
301-2
Advocate: devil's a. in the causes ofbeati-
fication, 35; devil's a. in DB's cause
54; "it will be myjob to be the devil's
a." (anec.), 22
Airplanes: flying during the translation
of DB's body, 171
Altar: DB's a. after his canonization, 345,
352; Bl. Mary Mazzarello's a., 359;
a. consecrated in 1938, 352
Alumni: French a. to participate in the
1934 solemnities, 315
Anniversary: fiftieth a. of DB's death,
343-60 (Chapter 18)
Apostolate: Dominic Savio's a., 193-94;
virtues that prepare for the a., 196;
(Pius XI) "all of DB's work was an
a.," 193
Apostolic Process: a. p. the decree ofthe
heroicity of virtues, 51-72 (Chapter
4); the nature of the a. p. 61; "inco-
ativo" (initial) process ratified, 52;
a. p. on the odor of sanctity, 52; a p.
and the miracles in DB's cause for
beatification, 79, 82
Apparition: to T. Callegari (the miracle
for the beatification), 78
Applause: a. for the Pope, 133, 138, 141,
144, 170, 276; a. for Bl. DB (in St.
Peter's), 130; for DB a saint, 248
Archbishop: a. Card. Gamba at DB's
tomb, 93; a. gives the order for DB's
beatification, 118
Archconfraternity: a. forty eight hours
devotion in the Papal audience, 299
Auxiliary: Turin's ladies a for DB's canon-
ization, 301
B
Band: List ofb. participating in the cor-
tege (6/6/29) 162;-1929ThePalatine
Music b. in the St. Damasus court-
yard (anec.), 138
Banner: b. for DB's beatification 122-
23; and canonization, 131-32, 243
Beatification: -1867 Don Francesia refers
to DB's b. in a letter, 123; why DB's
cause of b. takes so long, Preface;
DB's cause of b. brought to Rome,
122-36; the b.'s procedures, 123; the
b.'s pontifical brief, 124; the Pope's
visit to St. Peter's, 133; offering of
DB's relics to the Pope, 133; St.
Peter's illumination, 135; the Pope's
impressions after the b., 136-49; papal
audience at the courtyard ofSt. Dama-
sus, 137; papal audience to the stu-
dents of theology and pupils from
Valdocco, 144; beginning of the con-
struction ofthe church ofMary Help
of Christians at Via Tusculana, 149;
musical performances, 152; triduum
in DB's honor, 151; Turin, DB's feast
and the translation ofDB's body, 153-
75; the b.'s liturgy, 177; liturgical
manifestations, 180; b. and practi-
cal consequences for his sons (Pius
XI), 148-49; distinctive feature of the
= = = = Abbreviations: (anec.) Anecdote; Append. doc. appendix document; Bl. Blessed; bp. Bishop;
= = = = Chap. Chapter; DB Don Bosco; FMA Daughter of Mary Help of Christians; JB John Bosco;
MHC = Mary Help of Christians

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Index
433
b. feast, the reception of the Sacra-
ments, 152; important points of the
b. celebration, 180; on the words of
the Pope, 181; the b. of Mary Maz-
zarello, 355-59
Biography: DB's b. data in a decree of
the Sacred Congregation ofRites, 40
Body: -1917 recognition ofDB's remains
of the b., 52; -1929 reasons for the
solemn recognition of DB's b., 106;
conditions of the b., 110-12; work
to preserve the remains of the b., 113;
the b.' s vestition, 114; how the b. was
set up in the um, 115; transfer of the
b. to new um, 351
Brides: -1934 at DB's feast two b. were
present whose marriage had been
blessed by DB, 304
Brief: Pontifical b. that declared DB
Blessed, 124, Append. doc. 8, 369;
DB's spirit ofprayer not withstanding
the dispensation, 400
c
Calm: DB's c. (anec.) 14-15, 19, 100;
the Pope's testimonial, 6-7, 10
Candle (Easter): c. donated by Pius XI
to the Salesian Society, 343
Catholic Action Movement: the Salesian
Cooperator pioneers in the c. a. m.,
223; Pius XI encourages cooperation
with the c. a. m., 198; Pius XI praises
DB to c. a. m. groups, 287, 289
Canonization: particular demonstrations
after DB's c., 316; Cause of beati-
fication and c., 51-52; introduction
to the process of DB's canonization,
23; the opportunity to initiate DB's
c., 21-22; Don Rua's recommenda-
tion, 23; the Bishops' support, 24-26;
Don Rua presents to the bp. the peti-
tion to initiate the process of c., 26;
petition of the members ofthe Supe-
rior Council, 27; the petition is ac-
cepted, 30; preliminary steps in the
c., 30; Don Rua informs the Congre-
gation, 31; the appointed tribunal for
the c. gets together, 31-32; gathering
of testimonies, 33; stories and set-
backs in the procedure of the c., 33;
dates and statistics, 35; sent to Rome,
35
Ceremonies: DB's canonization, proce-
dures of the congregations after the
homily, 235
Charity: pacifies the enemies; the pur-
pose of c. is to save souls, 228
Child's wit: at DB's tomb ("I will take
DB's place") (anec.), 108; another
boy's wit ("everyone likes DB")
(anec.), 308
Church of Mary Help of Christians:
amplification ofthe ch., 275, 377, 380;
description of the work done, 348-
52; altar ofBl. Mary Mazzarello, 359
Church of the Sacred Heart: -1929
triduum in honor of Bl. DB, 150;
-1934 triduum in honor of St. JB, 282
Civil Authority: Pope's thoughts about
DB's works before the c. a. and gives
his approval, 85
City Hall: Turin's c. h. sends a crown of
flowers to DB's tomb, 93
Clerics: Exhortation of Pius XI to the
students of theology, 145, 191, 295
Coffin: -1929 DB's c., 107; -1917 the
damaged c., 52
Commemoration: -1888 Bl. DB's c. in
Madrid, 16; -1929 Bl. DB's c. held
by the Josephite Fathers, 122; -1929
DB's c. at Campidoglio, 263;-1934
civil c. of DB saint at Turin, 316;
Milan, 327

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434
The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
Congregations (Roman): c. for the recog-
nition of miracles, 73; c. on DB's
cause, 79; c. for "Toto," 97
Cooperators (Salesian): the c. honor DB
after his death, 1; Pius XI illustrates
the program of c., 201; the c.'s pil-
grimage to DB's canonization, 237
Cornerstone: placing of the c. of the
Church of Mary Help of Christians,
150-51
Cult: process of no c. in DB's cause, 38;
DB's c. ratified by Rome, 51; DB's
c. extended to the whole church, 336;
DB's c. in the world: at Paris, 337;
at Shrigley, 355
D
Daughters of Mary Help of Christians:
Papal audience to the FMA's, 294;
Beatification of Mary Mazzarello,
358; at Rome, the Institute of St.
Cecilia at Testaccio, 297 ; growth of
the FMA' s in the words of the Pope,
216
Decree: DB's cause ofbeatification from
the Congregation of Rites, 40; DB's
heroicity of virtues, 60; on the mira-
cles, 81; "Tuto," 95; on the miracles
for the canonization, 209; DB a saint,
248; see Cult
Devotion to Mary: universal maternity
of Mary, fruit of redemption, 272;
DB's d. to MHC, 92, 224
Directory: d. of the members of the tri-
bunal for DB's cause, 31
Dream: DB seen in ad., 354; DB dreams
that his mother takes water from the
fountain, 80
E
Encounter: between DB and D. A. Ratti
memorial, 320; "it is my tum to go
to DB" (Card. Gamba), 169
Envelope (sealed): on the deposition on
DB's writings (Msgr. Colomiati), 54;
consigned to Fr. Turchi on the cause
ofbeatification, 373-74, Append. doc.
10
Episode: two persons pretend to be DB,
108; e. raking place after DB's death,
80
Esteem: Pope's e. for DB, 57
F
Familiarity: people's f. with DB (anec.),
8
Fiftieth: anniversary ofDB's death, 343;
works that will remember him, DB's
altar, 345; other altars, 359
Frequent: reception of the Sacraments,
a characteristic ofDB's celebrations,
000
G
Gifts: four symbolic g. at the ceremony
ofDB's canonization; g. to the Pope
on this occasion, 235, 283; g. of the
Salesian Society to the Vatican
Basilica, 285
Gone astray: Fr. Marcellino, Bp. Gastal-
di' s confidant, 373,Append. doc. 10
Grace of God: cooperation with God's
g. the secret of DB's sanctity, 262
Graces: g. obtained through the interces-
sion of DB, 28, 75, 77, 78
Gratitude: present of g. to Pius XI dedi-
cation of a Salesian school in Rome
which bore the Pope's name, 149,
381; a memorial of g. in the temple
of MHC in Rome, 276
Guard: Pius XI speaks to the Palatine g.
about DB, 298

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Index
435
H
Healer: DB a great h, 418-19, Append.
doc. 11
Healing: of a young girl by DB, 000
History ofltaly: Pius XI' s opinion ofDB
as the writer of the h. of Italy, 286
(footnote)
Holy Year: -1934 the h. y. of our salva-
tion, 270; the Salesian h. y. 271
Homily: Pope's h. on DB's canoniza-
tion, 252; Card. Fossati's h. in Turin,
399, Append. doc. 17
Honors: to Card. Cagliero, 179
Humility: a bp.'s admiration for DB's
h., 15, 9-10
Hymn: h. "Giu dai colli ... ," 415;
Append. doc 12; h. at DB's canoni-
zation, 429, Append. doc. 18
I
"Informatio": in DB's cause of beati-
fication, what it is, 38
Imitation: Pius XI encourages the i. of
DB, 239, 70-71, 90, 143, 148, 191-
92, 195-201, 252, 268-75, 286-99
(cap. 40); Don Ricaldone's letter on
the i. of DB, 258; the Pope encour-
ages imitation of Mary Mazzarello,
257
Impressions: on the feast of Bl. IB, 180;
of St. JB, 315
Inscription: in honor ofDB's funeral, 361-
63; Append. doc. 1, 2
J
Joke telling: a nice joke, 417, Append.
doc. 10
Journalism: DB the patron saint ofjour-
nalists, 298
Jubilee: j. of the redemption and DB's
canonization, 235-36, 239, 271
K
King: ofltaly at DB's canonization, 237,
239; of Siam, 241
Knees: healing from severe infectious
"multi-arthritis" at the k. a miracle
for DB's beatification, 77-79
L
Latin: diptych in Bl. JB's honor, 122; 1.
hexametric, 132; 1. description ofBl.
JB's miracles, 123; 1. epigraph re-
membering DB's canonization, 277
Little boy: 1. b. at DB's tomb, 108 Let-
ters, "Postulatrice" (requesting or
remissory letters): what they are, 37;
for DB's beatification, 37; for DB's
canonization, 204
Long live: "I. 1. DB's Pope," 267
Look: DB's efficacious look, 417; Ap-
pend. doc. 10
M
Martyrdom: Cosma Carboniano' s m., the
Pope's discourse, 100; the first Ameri-
can m., 226 ; Pius XI declared that
DB charity was am., 267; his whole
life was am., 232; Pius XI discourse
on m., 100; not on1y of blood, 103;
religious life compared tom., 229
Mass: DB's Mass composed by I. Ubaldi,
250
Memorial tablet: in remembrance of the
canonization of DB, 276-77; in re-
membrance of the historical visit of
D. A. Rolti to the Oratory, 320; at
Chieri' s Caffe Pianta 325; at Becchi
to Mamma Margaret, 326
Method: senator Fedele praises DB's edu-
cative method, 317; praise from the
Armed Forces bp., 320
Miracles: for DB's beatification, 73-94;
healing of an ulcer,75-76; healing of

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436
The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
infectious "multi arthritis," 77-79;
DB's life is a continuous miracle
(Pope's speech), 87-88; m. are God's
voice praising his saints, 91; m. for
Don Bosco's Canonization, 206; m.
accepted, 210-11
Monument: project of am., 13; m. dedi-
cated to DB at Becchi, 176; m. in
the Vatican Basilica, 337; dream, 341;
DB's m. throughout the world, 337
Mother of Priests: inscription in the
memorial tablet in honor ofMamma
Margaret, 326
Mottos: hout ignota loquor, Preface; qui
laborat orat, 70; ut palma florebit,
49; dixi martyrem predicavi satis, 226;
"always more and better" (Pius XI),
288
Music: performance in honor of Bl. JB,
152, 177; themassesofmaestroAnto-
lisei and Pagella, Append. doc. 13;
and DeBonis, 306; Exultate Deo
(Pagella), 325
N
Newsletter: Don Rua' s letter announcing
DB Venerable, 47; Don Ricaldone's
1934 Easter letter, 258
0
Orphanage (Becchi): the o. Bernardi
Samaria, 353
p
Papal Audience: to a group ofDutch co-
operators, 201; held in the Vatican
Basilica, 283; to the St. Cecilia of
Testaccio, 294; to different pilgrim-
ages with word about DB, 286-99;
on the occasion of Mary Mazzarel-
lo' s beatification, 356; last p. a. of
Pius XI to Don Ricaldone, 359; p. a.
to the clerics and youth ofTurin, 144-
49; to the Salesian Institute of Fras-
cati, 182; to the Salesian Institute Pius
XI, 290-94; to all Alpine guards, 183,
344; to friends of the University of
the Sacred Heart, 185; to 200 citi-
zens from Apuglia, 186; p. a. and
speech to clerics ofthe Roman Semi-
naries, 191; -1922 p.a. to superiors
and pupils of the Sacred Heart, 56,
186; solemn p. a. for the approval of
DB's miracles, 81; -1929 p.a. to a
Piedmontese pilgrimage, 119; to Sale-
sian superiors, 136; to the represen-
tatives of the Salesians in the
courtyard of St. Damasus, 137
Penance: Pius XI praises Dominic Sa-
vio's love for p., 197
Pictures ofthe Madonna: asked ofimages,
9
Pidgeons: released at DB's canonization,
249, 258
Pilgrims: those married by DB, 304
Pilgrimage(s): -1938p. to DB's um, 353;
the mothers of priests in p. to Becchi,
326;-1929 p. to DB's tomb, 114-15;
to Rome for DB's beatification, 118;
for the transferring of Bl. JB' s body,
155-60; Pius XI speaks ofDB to the
p., 183, 185, 201, 286, 299; statistics
of the p. for DB's canonization, 300-
324 (Chap. 16) Pope: the p. approves
the miracles for DB's beatification,
81; speech, 86; cause of beatifica-
tion, 267-76; thank you to the Pope
for DB's canonization, 149, 277, 281
"Positio": meaning, 38; p. in DB's cause,
59; for the miracles, 74-76; for DB's
canonization, 220; for DB's cult
throughout the church, 336; p. and
Fr. Belmonte, 34

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Index
437
Prayer: DB's spirit of p.• 400, Append.
doc. 8
Praise: the Pope's p. of Dominic Savio,
195; DB's p. from different sources,
1-20 (Chap 1)
Praises and criticism: DB's p. at his
funeral, p. from cardinal to cardinal,
10-20; p. from card. Cagliero to Fr.
Francesia; DB's p. in the Pope's
speeches, 195, 200; p. to DB the edu-
cator, 164; p. of DB (Msgr. Calli),
321-22
Present (gift): gratitude p. to Pius XI from
the Institute that bears his name, 149,
281; the commemoration plaque, 276;
p. of recognition from the Salesian
family to the Pope on the occasion
of DB's canonization, 283; to DB
the Saint the honors of Campidoglio,
263
Press (The): "it is played up by the press,"
408, Append. doc. 1O; the p.' s inter-
est in DB's feast day celebration, 156,
180; for DB's canonization, 219;
DB's predilection for the p. accord-
ing to Pius XI, 298
Prince: Humbert of Savoy, the prince heir
to the throne visits DB's tomb, 92;
the p. represents the king of Italy at
DB's canonization, 238; for the fes-
tivities at Turin, 300; princess Ade-
laide present at the inauguration of
Count Rebaudengo' s Institute, 316
Protector: Parocchi the card. p., biographi-
cal notes, 21
Procession: for DB's canonization at
Rome, 242; at Turin, 308; -1938 p.
of MHC, 353
Promoter: general of the faith, his office,
35; praise to DB from the p. general
of the faith, 220
Process: a review of the p., 261-62, 407,
Append. doc. 10; ordinary and apos-
tolic nature of the p. and difference,
22-23; on DB's cause of beatifica-
tion how one arrives to the ordinary
p., 21-32, (Chap. 2); from the ordi-
nary p. to the p. of venerable, 33-51
(Chap. 3); preparations for the apos-
tolic p., 38-39; the disagreements with
Bp. Gastaldi, 40; deferral requested
for the p. inchoative, 51-52; review
shedding light on the opposition in
DB's p., 401-3, Append. doc. 9; from
the apostolic p. to the decree on the
heroicity of virtues, 51-72 (Chap. 4);
special p. to examine DB's writings,
54-55; the miracles p., how it takes
place in DB's cause, 74-75; Purity:
Pius XI praises Domininic Savio's
p., 197
Q
Queen: ofltaly at DB's canonization, 237;
of Thailand, 241
R
Railroad: an encounter with DB at a r.
station, 451, Append. doc. 19; r. prep-
aration for the transfer ofDB's body,
156; r. activities on June 9, 160, 173
Recognition: -1917 r. of DB's remains;
solemn r. of the remains, why, 52;
procedures, 106-9
Recourse ("Instantia"): ceremony ofthe
three r. for DB's canonization, 246-47
Relics: DB's r. gathered near the tomb,
108; parts of DB's body taken forr.,
113; DB'sr. given tothePopeatDB's
canonization, 284; Mary Mazarello' s
r. given to the Pope, 359; reliquary
given to the Pope, 133, 284, 359
Removal: ofDB's body, 153-81; the soul
of everything, 154
Rosminianism: Gastaldi's r., 356, Ap-
pend. doc. 10

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438
The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco
s
Salesian: "one who does not work can-
not be called as.," 143, 215; iden-
tity card of the s., 280
Sanctity: the secret of DB's s., its char-
acteristics and its fruits, 258-62; Pius
XI "do your duty, that's the core of
all s.," 292; DB's s. acknowledged
as a definition of s. by the Pope, 248
Souls: Pius XI praises DB's love for s.,
102, 282, 294, 311, 316
Speech: Pius XI' s s. to the Superiors,
pupils ofthe Sacred Heart, 56; s. after
the approval ofthe miracles, 67, 212;
after the "Toto" decree, 100; -1029
s. to the Piedmontese pilgrimage, 120;
to the Salesians in the courtyard of
St. Damasus, 140; s. to the clerics
and alumni in Turin, 147; to the Sale-
sian pilgrims, 188; after the decree
of the heroicity of DB's virtues, 75;
on the virtues ofDominic Savio, 195;
to Salesian cooperators, 201; to the
Salesian alumni of Frascati, 213-14;
to all the Salesian representation in
St. Peter's, 268; to the pupils of the
Pius XI institute, 290; of card. Moffi
on Venerable JB, 49; -1929 Msgr Sa-
lotti' s s. atValsalice, 107; Count De
Vecchi' s s. at Campidoglio, 266; Don
Ricaldone's s., 277; Msgr. Colli's s.
(at the placing of the first stone of
DB's altar), 321-22;-1938 Pius Xi's
s. at the beatification of Mary Maz-
zarello, 357
Sung Mass: Missa Redemptionis (Perosi)
for DB's canonization, 250; by De
Bonis at the canonization celebration
in Turin, 306
Symbol: symbolic gifts to the Pope at
DB's canonization, 253
T
Teacher: DB a practical t., 329
Te Deum: at closing of the first phase of
DB's cause, 72; t. d. in St. Peter's
after the proclamation of DB as a
Blessed, 131; as a Saint, 131; in Turin
after the feast in honor of DB, 325
Theology: Pius XI to the clerics, on how
t. is to be studied, 148
Testimonials: 446, Append. doc. 12, 450,
Append. doc. 17
Typography (printing): "in these things
DB wants to be at the vanguard of
progress," 297-98
Tomb: plebiscite of veneration, 92;
moving scenes ("I am DB"), 108;
the day of the beatification at DB's
t., 132
Triduum: -1929 t. in honor of Bl. JB at
Rome, 151-52; at Turin, 175;-1934
t. in honor of St. JB at Rome, 282;
at Turin, 302; at Milan, 000
Tranquility: t. (anec.), 336
Trust in God: DB's trust recognized by
the Pope, 101, 287
Tuberculosis: Insbruck doctor cured of
TB by DB, 205
"Tuto": what it can be in the cause of
beatification and canonization; in
DB's cause meeting ofcardinals, 97;
decree t., 98; for DB's canonization
decree oft., 220
u
Union with God: Pius XI, 71, 222; Don
Rinaldi' s declaration, 400, Append.
doc. 8
v
Verses: in honor of Bl. DB, a diptych,
132; in hexameter; rhythmic in jest,
440, Append. doc. 4

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47.1 Page 461

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Index
439
Veneration: at DB's tomb, 114-16, 132-
92;-1929 on the translation ofDB's
body, 168-71;atValdocco, 175;-1934
DB's v. throughout the world, 327
Vestments: for the feast of BL IB, 157;
DB's v. used to dress him up in the
um, 115; v. prepared by the FMA's
for DB's beatification, 157
Victor Hugo: on V. H.' s audience with
DB, Append. doc., 452, Append. doc.,
20
Virtue: DB's form of sanctity deduced
from his virtues, 27; exemplar ofhero-
icity of v. recognized in Savio, 192
Vision: DB sees in a v. the writing "Hie
nomen meum, hinc inde exibit gloria
mea," 353
Visit: of the cardinals, bps. missionaries
to the FIAT, to Becchi, 177-80
w
Work: Pius XI speech synthesizing DB's
work, 217, 232, 296; pontifical brief
for DB's beatification points to the
importance of w., 124; fiftieth ann.
of the w. in Rome, 186; in honor of
DB's works (Msgr. Colli), 217; DB
honored the w. of Card. Alimonda,
5; w. and the congregation, thoughts
and sentences, 141
y
Youth: DB's special mission, the salva-
tion of the young, 256-62

47.2 Page 462

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