THE PAST-PUPILS OF DON BOSCO

Introduction. - Article 5 of the Constitutions. - The education received. - 17 years with Don Bosco. - Don Rinaldi. inspirer and organizer. - Past-Pupils of Don Bosco. - The values of salesian education. - Different degrees of assimilation of these values.- Some ways in which Past Pupils can take part in Don Bosco’s mission. - The task of salesian communities. - Vital importance of spirituality. -Conclusion.

Rome, Solemnity of St Joseph, 19 March 1988

My dear confreres,

I am glad to be able to pass on to you a special greeting and the apostolic blessing of the Holy Father. On Friday 13 February in fact, the Rector Major and his Council were received in special audience by the Supreme Pontiff. It was our desire to thank His Holiness for what he has granted us in connection with the centenary celebrations of ‘88 and in particular for the Apostolic Brief regarding the special “Year of grace” and his promise to come to Turin in the first half of September 1988.

The audience took place in a family atmosphere and with a friendly conversation during which we were able to note once again the Pope’s concern for the young, his profound admiration for Don Bosco, and the fatherly esteem he has for our Congregation and the whole Salesian Family. He rejoiced to hear of the number of the Family’s component groups. Among the comments he made about the members and their activities, he reminded us that we are “charismatics of youth”, and as we took our leave of him he repeated with a smile that we must be so especially in the present time of cultural transformation. The audience proved to be a significant anticipation of the spiritual and ecclesial depth with which we hope to commemorate the event of the centenary.

This encouraging encounter also marked the end of the plenary session of the General Council, which on 1 December had begun a period of work lasting more than two months. Among other things, we were able to examine and approve more than 40 provincial chapters, and it was consoling to note the serious and practical manner in which the provincial directories had been drawn up. I am more and more convinced of the Lord’s love for us, and that he is with us as we lay solid foundations for a better future.

We shall prepare ourselves to express, all together, our gratitude to God our Father by an act of particular significance. On 14 May 1988 (as stated in this edition of the Acts, p. 42) we shall renew in our provinces and houses our religious profession. The date is a Saturday in the month of May, and marks the anniversary of the salesian profession made by Don Bosco and his first chosen young men of Valdocco. On that day the Congregation will feel itself spiritually renewed and ready to face up to the new times with the same enthusiasm and same creative daring of its founder. Let us take note of this at once, and set about preparing for it both individually and as communities.¹

Article 5 of the Constitutions

The Strenna of this year (and I hope you have made my commentary on it the subject of your meditation) invites us to intensify the community and activity of the Salesian Family so that it may approach 1988 (and beyond!) as a real “Ecclesial Movement” of missionaries of the Young. The various consecrated Groups in the Family already have their texts and subsidiary aids, born of the conciliar renewal, which can lead them to greater authenticity. More recently the Cooperators have drawn up the new text of their Regulations of Apostolic Life, of which I hope - dear confreres - that you all have a copy. You have also been already encouraged by one of my earlier circular letters to make a serious effort to gain a good understanding of Don Bosco’s thought in their regard and to take up both as individuals and communities the responsibility for their animation.²

I would like now to reflect more deeply with you on the importance of the Past-Pupils, the nature of their Association and the particular reason for their participation in the Family, and hence in Don Bosco’s mission.

I consider this a matter of no little importance in the renewal of our Congregation. Every confrere needs to reflect on it, and provincial and local communities are invited to review and relaunch in a practical manner the responsibility they share for the animation and revitalization of this immense and promising Association.

The heart and activity of the Salesian cannot be circumscribed by the walls of his own house. The thoughts I now put before you may be considered as a deeper treatment and development of what I

have already said in the circulars on the Salesian Family³ and on the Laity.⁴

Our point of departure and reference can be art. 5 of the Constitutions, which states that the Past-Pupils form part of the Salesian Family, The reason for their membership is given as “the education they have received”; in reality this education gives rise in them to different levels of participation, some more closely linked with the salesian mission in the world, and some less so, The recent “Guide to the Salesian Constitutions” notes that “past pupils are particularly prepared, precisely because of the education they have received, to assume a responsibility in collaborating for the attainment of the objectives inherent in the salesian plan”, The ‘choice of the Gospel’ made by many of them “is not an alternative to the title of ‘education received’, but rather a special expression of it: it is not therefore a separate title applicable to a kind of new group”,⁵ I think that what is stated by art. 5 needs further careful consideration on our part; it will serve to remind us certain practical obligations we must not overlook, and which require of us clarity of vision and awareness of our responsibility,

The “education received”

The title of Past-Pupils to membership of the salesian Family “by reason of the education they have received” is dense in content with many fundamental qualities, It prompts us to make a wide-ranging examination of conscience with regard to our educational and pastoral activity, A glance at the history of our origins will show us how important this is, by pointing out the bonds that arise from an authentic salesian educational system.

The Past-Pupils’ Association had no direct “founder”. Don Ceria tells us that it was born “like one of those things that arise from spontaneous natural causes”;⁶ it sprang from the family spirit of the preventive system at the Valdocco Oratory. Don Bosco himself has written that his style of education “makes the pupil a friend”, and enables the educator to speak to him in the language of the heart, not only while he is at school but later on as well, even when the former pupil is in employment, civil service or business.⁷ It is an educational method which has led to profound changes in behavior (Michael Magone is an example), which has led to the heights of sanctify (Dominic Savio, for instance), and a permanent communion of ideals and feelings with the educators all through life (and that is where the Past-Pupils come in). The atmosphere of living together, of happiness, friendship and development breathed by youngsters of different cultural origins and social conditions, has the power to create between educators and pupils a kind of spiritual relationship with bonds of mutual esteem, affection and ideals of life which endure in time.

“The boys felt themselves loved by Don Bosco, not just as simple pupils but as sons, and because of this there arose naturally in them, when they grew up, the thought of going back to their father’s house. And this spontaneous return continues to take place to the schools and houses where is sown this ‘homing instinct’ felt by former pupils, and where the spirit and method of Don Bosco is still to be found. The Past Pupils’ Movement was not therefore something started up by the educators as an association for school-leavers for group activities with a selected membership; it “grew up on its own” with a charismatic vitality at its beginnings.⁸

17 years with Don Bosco

The Past-Pupils Group began to take on a certain consistency even during Don Bosco’ own lifetime. Its beginning can be assigned to Don Bosco’s feast day on 24 June 1870. On that occasion a

dozen or so former pupils came together officially under the leadership of the genial and generous Carlo Gastini, who always looked on the Oratory as his second family. They set about finding more members and then formed a commission for the better organization of future annual manifestations of their affection and gratitude.

In this way the feast increased in scope from year to year, becoming a triumphal expression of grateful appreciation. After some years it was found necessary to divide the manifestation into two sections or meetings: one on Sunday for the lay past-pupils, and another’ on the following Thursday for those who had become priests; the latter became quite numerous and to them the good Father continually recommended the care of the young.⁹ Little by little, especially after Don Bosco’s death, they became further subdivided into local groups, unions and societies, and it was Don Philip Rinaldi who eventually got them organized efficiently in a practical form.

The period from 1870 to 1888, i.e. the 17 years during which Don Bosco was directly in touch with them, provide us with a great deal of food for thought; they enable us to see more clearly the meaning of their title to membership of the Family “by reason of the education they have received”.

We know what a great love Don Bosco had for his pupils; when they had finished their schooling he never forgot them, but followed them up, helped them, invited them back, welcomed them, encouraged them, guided them still, admonished them if necessary, and was concerned especially for their spiritual good. In one of the numerous encounters with them, he said: “I see that quite a number of you have lost your hair; in others it has turned gray and your foreheads have become wrinkled. You are no longer the boys I once loved so much, but I feel an even greater love for you now than I did then, because your presence here today tells me that you still have firmly rooted in your heart those principles of our holy religion that I taught you and that they guide you in your life. And then I love you more than ever because I can see that your heart is still given to Don Bosco... (and I can tell you) that I in turn am all yours, in my thoughts and in all I do. You were once only a little group, but that group has grown, has increased enormously, and will grow greater yet. You will be a light shining in the midst of the world, and by your example you will teach others how they must do good and detest and avoid evil. I am sure you will continue to be Don Bosco’s consolation.”¹⁰

On another occasion he said to them: “My dear sons, one thing I recommend to you above all else: wherever you may be, always conduct yourselves as good christians and upright citizens... Many of you already have a family. Give your children the same education you received from Don Bosco here at the Oratory”. ¹¹

Canon Benrrone tells us that “in those meetings with his former pupils Don Bosco always urged them to keep the Oratory spirit alive in society, and many of them availed themselves of the opportunity to seek his counsel”.¹²

In 1883, during his visit to Paris, after he had spoken about his educational method he answered a question by a person who expressed doubts about the perseverance of the young artisans once they had left the Oratory and gone into the army or the world of work: “At Turin”, he said, “there are many who come to confession on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings. And then in the Italian army it is well known that those who come from our workshops practice their faith; in fact, the others call them the ‘Boscos’. You can find them at all levels in the army.”¹³

On 26 July 1884, he recommended to his former pupils, almost as though leaving them a legacy: “Wherever you are, wherever you go, always remember that you are sons of Don Bosco, sons of the Oratory... Happy you will be if you never forget those truths I tried to engrave on your hearts when you were youngsters”. ¹⁴

In the other salesian houses too, those of recent foundation, the same communion of life, stemming from the education received, was observed. We read, for instance, that in Montevideo under the leadership of Don Lasagna, who took the spirit of the Oratory there, quite a number of youngsters “either when they went home for holidays or after leaving the college, set up real festive oratories in their own houses”; and in this way there gradually came into existence an organization of oratories presided over by a past-pupil Dr Lenguas, with a small body of Regulations which bore the interesting title: “Festive oratories of Montevideo managed by Past Pupils of the Collegio Pio” .¹⁵

During the years of direct contact with Don Bosco there were two particularly significant initiatives regarding his former pupils.

The first was in 1876, when Don Bosco finally launched the Pious Union of Salesian Cooperators after long years of planning and experiments. He gave great importance to his tiring work as the Founder and he invited the more committed ones among his former pupils to join this Pious Union. In one of the yearly manifestations of the former pupils following that date Don Bosco said: “The suggestion to involve each of you in the development of the work of the Salesian Cooperators is an excellent idea, because the Cooperators are sustainers of God’ s works by means of the Salesians... it is a work designed to shake people out of the inertia in which so many christians are bogged down, and spread the energy of charity.”¹⁶ An so in 1877, as Don Favini writes (in “Don Bosco e gli Exallievi”), “the Cooperators were referred to officially for the first time; and since former pupils vied with each other in joining the Pious Union (as appears from a letter of Canon Anfossi: BM 13,475), they were probably among the leaders” (in the manifestations of the Past Pupils too).¹⁷

The second was in 1878: Don Bosco suggested to his former pupils the setting up of a “Mutual Help Society” to meet difficulties that might arise: “I suggest that you do not benefit just yourselves alone, but reach out in emergencies to some of the well-behaved students who have left the Oratory, or to your former companions, or to everyone here present”.¹⁸ Carlo Gastini, leader of the former pupils, immediately set to work to organize such an association, using as a basis a set of regulations for a mutual aid society that Don Bosco had already drawn up and published in 1850 when he started such a scheme for the young workers at the Oratory.¹⁹

Don Rinaldi, inspirer and organizer

After Don Bosco’s death his former pupils continued their annual manifestation around the person of Don Rua, making of the feast of the Rector Major a great demonstration of gratitude, and when on 1 April 1901 Don Rua recalled Don Philip Rinaldi to Turin from Spain (where he had been provincial) to take on the important office of Vicar General (or Prefect General, as it was then called), the various groups of former pupils found in him an extraordinary animator and a very efficient organizer.

During his twenty years as Prefect General Don Rinaldi managed to bring about a reorganization with humble discretion, arranging matters so that it seemed that the main architects were the former pupils themselves or one of the collaborators working with him. In this way he was able to give an organic structure to a movement based on affection, gratitude and ideals of living, which made of the “education received” a living and dynamic force.

In 1906 he founded among the past pupils of Turin the “Don Bosco Circle” which quickly developed into one of the best salesian dramatic societies, and served as an example for similar organizations.

In 1907 to a confrere leaving for Spain, he said: “Look after the Past-Pupils: they are our crown; or, if you prefer it, they are the reason why we exist, because being an educational Congregation it is clear that we educate not for school but for life. Now the true life, the real life, begins when they have left our houses”.²⁰

To his work of animation Don Rinaldi added his far-sighted realization of the need for an organization, and suggested practical ways of bringing this about. On 25 June 1909 he put forward the idea of an international confederation, and to promote it he made use of the well-deserving “Commission of Don Bosco’s Former Pupils” which, from the time of Gastini, had been organizing the annual manifestations at Valdocco. The structure was formally inaugurated in the first international Congress of Past-Pupils in 1911, as a Federation of the many local unions, circles and societies. Until then they had been called “Former Pupils” (“Antichi Allievi”); from that date onwards they were known as “Past Pupils” (“Exallievi”) a name Don Rinaldi had already begun to use earlier.

By June 1912 it was already possible to organize an “Administrative Council” and nominate the first President in the person of Prof. Piero Gribaudi. “It was said. not without justification”, commented Don Ceria, “that this was something quite new in the history of pedagogy”.²¹

During those years Don Rinaldi, who was also confessor of the Sisters and zealous animator of their Oratory for girls, was<; also concerned with the organization of the Past Pupils of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, so that they too might grow and eventually be structured as a Federation.

As Rector Major he took a constant interest in the functioning and vitality of the Union of Past Pupils, and was distressed to discover that not all the confreres had understood its importance. For this reason he earnestly recommended it to the care of provincials and rectors: “There are some”, he said, addressing a gathering of 25 provincials and 300 rectors at Valsalice in 1926, “who think that the organization of the Past Pupils is a useless work, and so they do not bother about it. I want to remind them that the Past Pupils are the fruits of our own labors. In our houses we do not work for a pay packet, or to ensure that the youngsters remain good only while they remain with us, but to make them good christians. And for that reason this Organization is an ongoing work: through it we want to bring back those who have gone astray; ... we have sacrificed ourselves for them and our sacrifice must not be lost”.²²

Chevalier Arturo Poesio, in a deposition in connection with the cause for beatification, declared: “Once in a meeting of Past Pupils, hearing that the latter were in difficulties as to how they could meet the whole cost (Lire 1,500) of their ceremonial meal, which he enjoyed very much, without putting a strain on the finances of the local Institute, the Servant of God declared that if a salesian house had only 1,500 lire to its credit, he would gladly approve the spending of the whole lot on the meal for the Past Pupils, because no sacrifice would be more satisfying to his heart if it helped to bring together around him his beloved sons”.²³

Don Ceria observes: “If was said very forcibly, but in all truth, that Don Rinaldi ‘shaped and formed the Past-Pupils Movement through his genial intuition and wanted it to be a dynamic and living force doing good in the world by its work”‘.²⁴

Dear confreres, I have tried to emphasize, albeit briefly, the work and thought of Don Rinaldi because his figure comes to life again in our hearts at the present day, with the hope we have that soon he will be beatified. It was said of him by Don Francesia (who lived close to our Founder for so many years) that Don Rinaldi had everything of Don Bosco except his voice. He was a most faithful and fertile disciple of the Father, with a deep intuitive understanding of his greatness of heart and soul, and that of the latter he developed some precious seeds which had not yet germinated. We well know, for example, the story of the Don Bosco Volunteers; that of the Past Pupils is equally clear.

Arturo Poesio stated in fact: “Don Rinaldi’s eloquence was simple and spontaneous and at the same time fatherly and convincing. Only once did I hear him speak with an expected language of authority, and that was when he declared in his capacity of Rector Major of the Salesian Society, that the Organization of the Past Pupils must be considered as being one of the “new families” which Don Bosco had the merit of causing to spring up in the Church, as was said in the Collect proper to the Mass of the Saint”.²⁵

May Don Rinaldi help us by his intercession to promote today, in a Church renewed by Vatican II, the auspicious Association of the Past Pupils as a dynamic Group of the Salesian Family.