Valdocco, Turin, 23 February 2014

On 7 April 1849, Il Conciliatore Torinese, the moderate Catholic liberal newspaper, published a well-documented article on Don Bosco's Oratory concerning the “humble priest who had no other wealth than abundant charity”, who “for a few years had been gathering five or six hundred children every weekend to instruct them in Christian virtues and gradually make them children of God and excellent citizens”. It highlighted Don Bosco’s zeal, approach and the results he got. In particular, the author of the article said he was impressed by the industrious and happy fervour that was a feature of the work:

“A hive around which a swarm of bees was buzzing, while most of them were peacefully producing honey, would offer you a good image of what was happening in that holy enclave on weekends. And along the streets that led there, you would meet crowds of kids at every step, singing away as happily as if they were going to a party: inside everywhere you'd see kids split up into small groups playing, some jumping around, others playing ball, bocce, on seesaws, doing somersaults, standing on their heads: while in the little chapel others were learning catechism, still others getting ready for the sacraments, and in nearby rooms others were learning to read and write, or arithmetic, practising handwriting, singing”¹.

The beehive is a significant image, since it gives the idea of an efficiently organised hard-working but orderly and productive community.