Circular

E I, 234

Brief history of the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales — support from the royal family and government and municipal authorities — need for expansion — decision to hold a public lottery — invitation to contribute by sending items

Turin, 20 December 1851

Distinguished Sir,

Ten years ago, a modest charitable work was undertaken in this city's district under the name of Oratory of St Francis de Sales, aimed solely at the intellectual and moral welfare of those young people who, through parental neglect, the influence of perverse friends, or lack of financial means, find themselves exposed to constant danger of corruption. Some people who care about the good education of the people saw with sorrow how the number of idle and ill-advised young people was increasing every day, living by begging or fraud on the streets and in the squares, a burden on society and often the instrument of all kinds of misdeeds.

They also saw with deep sadness many of those who had devoted themselves to skills and trades in the city spending their holidays gambling and indulging in excess, squandering the meagre wages they had earned during the week. Eager to remedy an evil whose consequences were to be feared as most disastrous, they decided to open a Sunday meeting place where everyone could have the opportunity to fulfil their religious duties and at the same time receive instruction, guidance and advice on how to live a Christian and honest life. An oratory dedicated to St Francis de Sales was therefore established with the funds provided by the charity of those generous people who are accustomed to be generous in matters concerning the public good. Everything necessary was prepared to celebrate religious services and to give young people a moral and civic education. various games designed to develop physical strength and honestly recreate the spirit were also adopted, and thus efforts were made to make their stay in that place both useful and enjoyable.

It is difficult to say how favourably the invitation was received by the young people, without any publicity, and in the manner customary among family members, to meet every Sunday in the Oratory; this encouraged the enlargement of the enclosure and the introduction, over time, of improvements that ingenious and prudent charity could suggest; so we began to teach reading, writing, the basics of arithmetic and Italian, first on Sundays and then every evening during the winter season, and a special study was set up to familiarise willing young people with the use of the [new] legal measures, which, since most of them were engaged in trades, they felt the greatest need for.

Instil in their hearts affection for their relatives, brotherly kindness, respect for authority, gratitude to benefactors, love of hard work, and above all else, instruct their minds in Catholic and moral doctrines, steer them away from the wrong path, instil in them a holy fear of God, and accustom them early on to observing religious precepts. These are the things to which zealous priests and lay people have devoted themselves assiduously for two decades, devoting their utmost care and attention.

So while there are those who commendably strive to spread scientific knowledge, to advance skills, promote industry and educate wealthy young people in colleges and secondary schools, in the modest Oratory of St Francis de Sales, religious and civil education is widely shared with those who, although less fortunate, still have the strength and desire to be useful to themselves, their families, and their country.

However, recognising that the premises intended for use as a chapel would soon become too small for the ever-increasing number of young people, and not wanting to leave such a well-established enterprise half-finished, the promoters, full of confidence in the generosity of their fellow citizens, decided to build a larger building more suited to the purpose, thus ensuring the longevity of such a useful educational institution. All delays were cut short, uncertainties were overcome, and the foundations of the new Oratory were courageously laid. Donations, gifts and encouragement of all kinds have continued to this day, and so much progress has been made that within a few months the roof was completed.

However, in order to complete the building, the usual means are no longer sufficient, and it is necessary that the inexhaustible charity of the public come to the aid of private charity. It is to this end that the undersigned promoters of this pious work turn to Your Excellency, invoking your assistance and proposing a means which, having already been used with success in other worthy institutions, will certainly not fail at the Oratory of St Francis de Sales.

This means consists of a lottery of items which the undersigned have decided to undertake in order to cover the costs of completing the new chapel, and to which Your Excellency will undoubtedly wish to lend your support, considering the excellence of the work to which it is directed. Whatever item Your Excellency wishes to offer, whether made of silk, wool, metal or wood, whether the work of a renowned artist, a modest labourer, a hard-working craftsman or a charitable noblewoman, everything will be gratefully accepted, because when it comes to charity, every little bit of help is important, and because even many small donations together can be enough to accomplish the desired work. The undersigned trust in your kindness, confident that the thought of contributing to the good education of abandoned youth will not fail to move your heart to make some kind of donation.

It is worth recommending to you the pious institution and the singular benevolence with which people of all ranks and degrees have promoted its establishment and favoured its expansion. Above all, it is worth noting the vote cast by the first Legislative Body of the State, which, after giving it favourable consideration, appointed a special commission to obtain precise information about it and, having recognised its usefulness, warmly recommended it to the King's Government.

Also worthy of note is the generous subsidy granted to it for two consecutive years by unanimous vote of the Turin City Council, the singular generosity with which His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen deigned to come to its aid, and the special kindness with which venerable prelates and distinguished personalities took pleasure in recommending it to public charity.

The undersigned would like to thank you in advance for your kind cooperation in ensuring the success of the planned lottery, and pray for God's blessings upon you.

Your distinguished Excellency’s

Most obliged servants

The Promoters