EN - Don Bosco a Roma 2022 %40 4 X 2022


EN - Don Bosco a Roma 2022 %40 4 X 2022

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A Guide to don Bosco’s places
in the Capital

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A Guide to don Bosco’s places
in the Capital

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Rome, 9 October 2022
The canonisation of Salesian Brother Artemides Zatti is a special grace of God’s Providence at
this time in history. The recognition of the holiness of a confrere who lived the gospel project of
the Constitutions to the full is a stimulus and help on the path to holiness of all of us Salesi-
ans. The witness of this holiness, achieved within the Salesian mission, reveals the unique
worth of the beatitudes, and is the most precious gift that we can offer to the young (C 25).
After the canonisation of Don Bosco, which took place on 1 April 1934, and the canonisa-
tion of Saints Aloysius Versiglia and Callistus Caravario, which took place on 1 October
2000, the proclamation of the holiness of Artemides Zatti by Pope Francis on 9 October
2022 indicates to the entire Church that he is the first Salesian Brother saint of the Salesian
Congregation. This event, as Constitution 45 tells us, reminds us Salesians of Don Bosco of
the complementary beauty of our vocation:
Each of us is responsible for the common mission, and participates in it with
the richness of his own personal gifts and with the lay and priestly characteris-
tics of the on Salesian vocation.
The Salesian brother brings to every field o education and pastoral activity the
specific qualities of his lay status, which make him in a particular way a wit-
ness to God's Kingdom in the world, close as he is to the young and to the real-
ities of working life.
The Salesian priest or deacon brings to the common work of promoting human
development and of educating in the faith the specific quality of his ministry,
which makes him a sign of Christ the Good Shepherd, especially by preaching
the Gospel and administering the sacraments.
The significant and complementary presence of clerical and lay Salesians in the
community constitutes an essential element of its make up and of its apostolic
completeness.
5
It is with great joy that I offer you this text, “Don Bosco in Rome” on this occasion, as a gift
to Salesians taking part in the canonisation, but also as a valuable legacy for everyone who
reads this book. The book speaks of Don Bosco’s love for the Eternal City, helps us grasp his
profound understanding of Rome and his desire to open a house in the Pope’s own city.
Just as the value of the education received from Mamma Margaret, the dream at nine years of

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age that marked his life, and the simplicity of country life emerge from the home and fields at
the Becchi; just as we grasp the value of sacrifice, friendship, work and study, the desire to
discover the priestly vocation from his time in Chieri; just as the outline of the vocation to serve
the young that needed constant discernment in his time at the Convitto, and in the initial
wanderings of the oratory is revealed in the city of Turin; and finally, just as the Don Bosco
who created the Preventive System, built a house where young people experienced the spirit of
family, established schools and workshops, and gathered the first group of young people who
would become the first Salesians emerges at Valdocco, the cradle of Salesian spirituality, so
does Don Bosco the founder emerge clearly in Rome – the one who showed his love for the
Church and the Pope with the desire to receive the approval of the Salesian Constitutions.
The book illustrates a true historical and spiritual pilgrimage to Don Bosco's places in Rome:
1. Don Bosco's residences in Rome; 2. The places most visited and dearest to the Saint; 3.
Potential Salesian houses in Rome.
My hope is that each Salesian of Don Bosco and each member of the Salesian Family, as
they retrace these places with faith and devotion, may relive the passion of our founder in
themselves and faithfully continue to renew the charism of St John Bosco through the witness
of personal holiness. May St Artemides Zatti intercede for us.
Don Ángel Fernández Artime
Rector Major
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INTRODUCTION
Often, when speaking about Don Bosco, we recall and recount certain particular
episodes from his life that took place not in Turin or at the Becchi, but during his
many journeys outside Turin and away from Piedmont. Among these, undoubtedly,
the greater majority of them had Rome as their goal.
There are few people today who, when visiting the Eternal City (or even living
there), wonder what places in Italy's capital city saw the presence of the saint.
This question prompted us to carefully study these journeys which, as many
know, numbered twenty in all. A calculation, albeit an approximate one, of the
days that Don Bosco spent in Rome has surprised us – as many as 700. This
means that out of his 72 years of life the saint spent almost 2 of them in the
city of the Popes. And that is not insignificant if we consider the transport condi-
tions in the 19th century.
Over two years and in a ‘restricted’ Rome as it was then, it is natural that the
saint from Turin visited everything there was to visit. So a first answer to the
previous question could be: ‘Did Don Bosco see everything that could be visit-
ed?’
But often, ‘everything’ is synonymous with ‘nothing’.
Looking more closely at the pages of the Biographical Memoirs that recount his
travels, a certain “topographical map” of the places that were of most interest to
the saint forms in the reader's mind. It is on these, then, that we focus our at-
7 tention, bearing in mind the regrets of people who would like to see everything
but are nevertheless forced to make choices.
Unfortunately, some of these places no longer exist today (such as the ‘casa dei
confessori’ at the Tor de' Specchi Monastery, the monastery of St Cajo al Quiri-
nale, Bishop Manacorda’s house ...) because they were demolished in the succes-
sive urban redevelopments of the city. It would therefore be useless to include
them in what is meant to be a guide for those who intend to visit the “Don

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Bosco’s Rome” today.
Twenty trips are a lot. But why did the Saint go to Rome so often?
1. Out of love for the Pope.
2. Out of love for the Eternal City.
3. To gain approval of the Rules of the Salesian Society.
4. For appointment of bishops and the question of their ‘temporalities’.
5. In order to spread distribution of the Catholic Readings.
6. To seek finances for his works.

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In order to give a degree of logical unity to the work, these places have been
divided into three parts, each of which includes an explanation and, above all,
quoting from pages in the Biographical Memoirs that refer to each place. Howev-
er, these parts are not a tour itinerary in themselves, both because the places in
each part are sometimes very far apart, and because we leave it to the freedom
of the individual to choose those places they consider more of interest for in-
cluding in any plans to visit the eternal city, unhampered by some pre-established
order.
1. Where Don Bosco stayed in Rome
The various buildings (palazzi) that hosted the Saint during his stays in Rome are
described here. Naturally, we are more attached to some (Tor de' Specchi, Via
Sistina...) and to others a little less so. Moreover, for some we have an abun-
dance of narrative material from the pages of the Biographical Memoirs, while for
others this is not the case. These are the reasons for the considerable difference
in the length of the more or less detailed individual explanations.
Any reference to where Don Bosco stayed on each journey should not be lacking
a brief presentation of the journey and the reasons that had driven the Saint to
Rome on that occasion.
2. The Saint’s most visited and dearest places
There is no question that the place most visited by Don Bosco was the Vatican,
in all its parts (Basilica, Cupola, St Peter's Tomb, Apostolic Palaces, Papal Audi-
ences...). But there are other places to which Don Bosco was particularly at-
tached. They make this second part of the work. We have also included in this
part the sympathetic account of Don Bosco's meeting with a group of boys which
took place in Piazza del Popolo, because it seemed to us the only one of the
three parts where this could be placed without forcing it.
3. Potential Salesian houses in Rome
9 Don Bosco often thought of sending his sons to Rome, for the good of the peo-
ple and for closeness to the Holy See. His thoughts fell on many institutes al-
ready existing in the city and which the Saint only considered after a direct invi-
tation to take care of them (often from the Pope).
However, he had to wait until the construction of the Sacred Heart Basilica, with
its adjoining Hospice, was completed before he could have a house of his own in
Rome.

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For those who wish to visit Rome “Salesian-style”, the hope is that they will find
some useful material in these pages, inviting them to spend a little longer in places
where they find that Don Bosco had also been there.
Because “that place will be dearer to you, it will remain more impressed in your
mind and you will seem to find something there that belongs to you: affection and
love for St John Bosco”.
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Casa
De Maistre
Palazzo Volpi
Via del Quirinale, 21
The noble family of Count Carlo De Rodolfo De Maistre, who hosted Don Bosco
during his first stay in Rome (21 February – l6 April 1858) were living in the 17th
century Palazzo Volpi, opposite the Church of San Carlo al Quirinale (by Borromini),
in 1858.
During his stay in Rome, Don Bosco lodged at Le Quattro Fontane on
the Quirinale, so named because each of the square's four streets is
crowned by a perennially spouting fountain. Count and Countess Ru-
dolf De Maistre, their daughters, and their sons Francis, Charles, and
Eugene (the latter a papal army officer), treated him with the utmost
consideration and affection—the result of many years of friendship
and esteem. They did not have a private chapel, but there was a
convent of Belgian nuns in the same building and Don Bosco was
welcome to say Mass there. (BM V, 534). [NOTE: All references to
the Biographical Memoirs are to the English printed edition, New Ro-
chelle]
The saint arrived here, together with the cleric Michael Rua, exhausted by the jour-
ney. Before undertaking it he had made a will. (BM V, 524)
As there was still no continuous railway between Turin and Rome, they had to ven-
12 ture on a very troubled journey: by train to Genoa, where they boarded ship, the
Aventino, disembarking at Civitavecchia. Don Bosco was seasick and this journey
was a real torment for him. (BM V, 528ff.).
From Civitavecchia, having recovered a little from the discomfort of the crossing,
they boarded a mail coach and after stopping in Palo for something to eat, they
reached the Eternal City at 10.30 p.m. on 21 February 1858.

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As the coach moved on to its terminal, the travelers were thrilled by
the sight of the Holy City. It was February 21, 1858. Since this was
Don Bosco's first visit to the city of the popes and he had no idea of
its layout, he gave a guide twelve baiocchi to take them to the house
of Count De Maistre, at 49 Via del Quirinale, Le Quattro Fontane.
Don Bosco and his two companions arrived there at eleven o'clock
and were cordially received by the count and countess; the other
members of the family were already in bed. They had refreshments
and then retired to their rooms. (BM 5, 533).
The agenda for this, their first stay in Rome, was as follows:
Contacting prominent people and, under their guidance, visiting the
most important places, shrines, basilicas and churches, of which there
were so many everywhere. His devotion needed an outlet, his inquiring
mind sought the great monuments erected by the popes, and his soul
longed to recall, amid the empire's majestic ruins, the wonderful and
glorious deeds of the martyrs. He was anxious to enrich his
knowledge so that he would be better equipped to write on church
history and the lives of the popes in Letture Cattoliche. In his desire
to be very thorough and see all he could, including masterpieces of
ancient or modern art, he decided to spend an entire month on this
project. (MB 5, 535).
Unfortunately, today, it is no longer possible to visit the building internally, since it
hosts private dwellings.
Map

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Palazzo
Vimercati
Piazza San Pietro in Vincoli
The Basilica of St Peter in Chains was very dear to Don Bosco; in fact, he often
withdrew there to pray or celebrate Mass. This attachment can also be ex-
plained by the fact that during his second stay in Rome (7 January – 2 March
1867) Don Bosco lived at the home of Count Vimercati, in the building adja-
cent to the church.
The journey to Rome led to an unexpected event:
A short distance from Rome we met Bishop Manacorda and Cav.
Marietti. Greeting us effusively they got into the carriage with us
and took us to Rome... Here, however, something happened that
disturbed our contentment. We could no longer find our tickets so
we had to pay the entire fare. Through the intervention of
Manacorda and Marietti, however, we were free, ‘pro tempore’
and hoping to find them at the passport station...
Don Bosco’s arrival in Rome was eagerly awaited:
At Don Bosco's arrival, the whole city became astir as if a great
prince had arrived, and the most illustrious fami-
lies paid him courtesy calls. His fame as a wonder
15
worker had preceded him, and many unfortunate
people were waiting for him as for a healing angel.
What faith! I never saw or ever expected to see
such boundless confidence in our Don Bosco.
Map

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In every corner of the city this morning, all you could see were
posters: The History of Italy by Fr John Bosco
The day began immediately by healing the Count himself:
Upon arriving at the count's residence, Don Bosco immediately
paid him a visit and greatly cheered him. The count had been
bedridden, racked with pain and dizziness, for a long time. Don
Bosco found him in a very poor, hopeless condition, with but a
slim chance of even just getting up for a short while. He blessed
him and told him that he would soon get up for a brief respite.
"I'll take you up on that," the count replied. "Only then will I let
16
you return to Turin." He said this because any relief seemed im-
possible. But, two or three days later, his pain abated and he was
able to get up unaided and dine with his family. "So you want me
to go back to Turin," Don Bosco said to him as the count entered
the dining room. Remembering his words, the count was quick to
declare them null and void. The count's improvement, however,
was only temporary. Seemingly the Lord did not want to free him

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of his cross, but only to lighten it. The fact remains, however, that
the count did then and there gain, much strength. Our Lady's kind
intervention cannot be doubted.
While waiting for the Papal audience, Don Bosco’s activity was intense:
Faithful to his practice of weekly confession, Don Bosco availed
himself of the services of Father Vasco, S.J., the count's spiritual
director who visited the patient once a week. We must also note
that from the very first day of his arrival in Rome and throughout
his stay, Don Bosco carried on a priestly apostolate, preaching,
hearing confessions, visiting the sick, institutions, boarding
schools, monasteries and convents, counseling till far into the
night, and instilling into many sick persons the hope of recovery
through the blessing and the medal of Mary, Help of Christians.
Very many people recommended themselves to him as to a saint,
much to the Pope's delight for the great good being done.
Today, Count Vimercati's palace is entrusted, together with the Basilica, to the
custody of the Lateran canons, who carefully preserve its ancient image.
In fact, it is possible to admire the corridors and rooms where for hours on end,
Don Bosco gave audience to the thousands of people who asked for help, heal-
ing, advice, comfort.
A sign placed above a door jamb recalls that Don Bosco was hosted in that
room “before 1870”. This was the saint's room.
It was in this house, on 26 February 1867 that the only two Roman photo-
graphs of the saint were taken by photographer Achille De Sanglau: the one
with Don Bosco with breviary in hand, and the one in the act of blessing “Fr
Francesia, Mr Pardini, the butler and his son” (BM VIII, 309). Although reluc-
tant to pose for photographers, he agreed to the Count's request (who wanted
a memento of the Turinese priest), to thank him for his thoughtful hospitality.
Word of these photographs, especially the latter, soon spread.
17
On February 26, after his visit to the Altieri and Vitelleschi fami-
lies, Don Bosco returned to the hospitable residence of Count
Vimercati to spend his last hours in Rome with him. Obligingly, he
posed for a photograph showing him blessing Father Francesia,
the butler, and his son. A limited number of prints were later giv-
en out to close friends and benefactors. Most cordial and moving

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were the count's last conversations with Don Bosco, who even in
those last hours received insistent callers.
Don Bosco left on 26 February 1867 to return to Turin, leaving an indelible
memory on many Romans, as Bishop Manacorda wrote to Cav. Oreglia:
My eyes are still swollen with tears at his departure. Last night at
8 o'clock he left us here in Rome as orphans, desolate and moved
to see him go. Your Lordship will know what was the abode of this
good father of ours in Rome. The victor at Magenta... would be a
pygmy before D. Bosco. The Roman nobility, who mingled with the
plebs and forgot their court etiquette to bend their knee to D.
Bosco and receive his blessing, would not leave the antechamber
of the Father of urchins, to sit at the side of their great Sire. Oh
how powerful is D. Bosco’s virtue. I would like to describe the
scene of his departure, but I cannot, my heart cannot bear it. Fr.
Francesia will tell you everything.
Having heard of the caring welcome from the Romans, the boys at the Valdocco
Oratory did not want to be outdone, welcoming the saint with the famous in-
scription: 'Rome admires you, Turin loves you' (BM VIII, 312), which was the
cause of much justified protest by the Romans and which Pope John XXIII cor-
rected to read as: “The whole world admires you, the whole world loves you.”
18

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Casa
Colonna
Piazza Santa Chiara 49
The apostolic forwarding agent, Stefano Colonna, lived in this palace, in what
was then Via S. Chiara 49. He hosted the saint during his stays in 1871 (June
and September) and 1873 (24 February – 4 March).
The reasons that drove the saint to Rome on these trips were mainly the nego-
tiations between the Kingdom of Italy and the Holy See for the appointment of
more than 60 bishops of vacant Italian dioceses and for the approval of the
Salesian Constitutions.
Don Bosco succeeded in the negotiations and more than 40 dioceses were pro-
vided with their own pastor. Among these was the diocese of Turin. The saint
insisted with Pius IX that Bishop Gastaldi, until now a great friend of his, be pro-
moted there.
Even though he was of a different view, the Pope accepted, but telling the saint:
“You really want him, and so I give him to you!” (BM X, 200)… How many prob-
lems this appointment brought Don Bosco! [Initially a friend, once he became
Archbishop of Turin, Gastaldi became intransigent in
19 dealing with Don Bosco, even suspending him from
hearing confessions in his diocese].
Today, however this building, a few steps from the Pan-
theon, has been refitted as private dwellings, so cannot
be visited inside.
Map

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Casa
Sigismondi
Via Sistina 104
The Sigismondi family lived here. Don Bosco was their guest on six occasions in
1873-1874, 1875, 1876 (March and November), 1877 (January-February
and July).
In those years the saint's main concern was the consolidation of his work and,
first and foremost, his commitment to the approval of the Salesian Constitu-
tions by the Holy See.
Don Bosco lived on the top floor of the building, where he often had to with-
draw to draft texts, correct drafts, formulate questions, write letters (in many
of which one can still read the address: via Sistina 104).
Among these letters of particular importance is the one written on 16March
1874 to the Rectors of Salesian Houses, in which the saint, announcing the
forthcoming meeting of the Cardinal's Commission in charge of deciding on the
approval of the Salesian Constitutions, asked for special prayers and pious prac-
tices:
Dearly beloved children in JC,
21
The 24th of this month will be very memorable for our Pious So-
ciety. You will certainly remember how it was definitively approved
by the Decree of 1 March 1869: now it is a question of the de-
finitive approval of the Constitutions.
For this purpose the Holy Father has chosen a Congregation of
Cardinals, who will have to give their opinion on this matter, which

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is one of the most important for our present and future good. The prayers
so far often recommended were directed to this end. We must therefore
redouble our our supplications before the Divine Throne, so that the Merci-
ful God will dispose that everything is according to
His greater glory and our particular spiritual ad-
vantage.
Map
Let us therefore unite in the spirit of living faith,
and all Salesians together with the pupils entrusted
to them by Divine Providence, let them be of one
heart and soul to implore the light of the Holy
Spirit upon the Most Eminent Cardinals with a
Triduum of prayers and exercises of Christian piety.
So that there may be conformity in our supplications to the Divine Mercy,
let us establish that:
1. Beginning on the 21st of this month, all Salesian members will fast for
three days. Let whoever who for a reasonable reason cannot fast say the
Miserere with three Salve Reginas to the B. V. Help of Christians with the
verse: Maria, Auxilium Christianorum, ora pro nobis. Let each one add those
prayers and mortifications that he judges compatible with his strength and
duties of his state.
2. Let us invite our beloved pupils to approach the Sacraments of Confes-
sion and Communion as often as possible. In the morning, begin by singing
the Veni Creator Spiritus, etc. Prayers, the Rosary, Mass and Meditation
should be directed to this need.
3. Throughout the day let all Salesian members spend as much time as
they can before the Blessed Sacrament. The recitation of the Breviary, spir-
itual reading, all ordinary prayers, are to be done in church.
4. In the evening, at a more convenient hour, let each of us gather in
22 church, and with the greatest devotion, having recited the Veni Creator
as in the morning, make the usual practices in reparation for the out-
rages that Jesus receives in the Blessed Sacrament;
These humble requests of our to the goodness of the Lord will commence
on the 21st and continue until the morning of the 24th inclusive, this
month.

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May the grace of OLJC always be with us. Amen.
Yours affectionately in JC,
Fr J. Bosco,
Rome, 16 March
At ten o'clock on the morning of March 24, the vigil of the Annunciation, the
special committee met with the cardinal vicar, and despite many variations and
additions which had been made in the constitutions, the result was highly fa-
vourable. But the debate was prolonged and the cardinals decided to meet again
on the last day of the month (BM X, 362).
On March 31 Father Berto returned to the Church of San Andrea
Belle Fratte to have two candles lit before the altar of Our Lady
of the Miracle. At nine o'clock that morning, the special commit-
tee of cardinals met to discuss the approval of our constitutions
and remained in session until one-thirty in the afternoon. In re-
gard to the question of "if and how the recent constitutions of the
Salesian Society should be approved," the reply was Affirmative et
ad mentem.
Obviously the cardinals' committee had worked hard, and by the
favor of God and Mary, Help of Christians their opinion had been
utterly favorable.
It would have been impossible to ask for more. The cardinals had
first thought that the approval should be limited to an experiment
of ten years prior to granting the definitive approval, but then, in
view of Don Bosco's reiterated, fervent supplications, the good
offices of Cardinal Berardi, and the clearly favorable comments of
the Holy Father, they voted for a definitive approval, three cardi-
nals voting in favor and only one opting for the ad decennium
solution.
Archbishop Vitelleschi then asked for a special audience with the
Pope, who granted it for the afternoon of Good Friday, April 3.
After listening carefully to the report and realizing that one vote
was needed for a unanimous approval, he smilingly exclaimed,
“Very well, I shall cast the missing vote.”
At six that evening Archbishop Vitelleschi was still in audience.
24
Later that same evening, Don Bosco called on him to learn the
outcome, just as the archbishop was starting his dinner. After a
few moments, he had Don Bosco ushered in and immediately ex-
claimed: “Don Bosco, rejoice! The constitutions of your Congrega-
tion have been definitely approved, and you can issue uncondi-
tional dimissorial letters for ten years.”

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Bursting with joy, our saintly founder held out a piece of candy
which Mrs. Monti had given him, and with real simplicity offered it
to the prelate, saying, "You deserve it!"
The Salesian Constitutions, after much suffering, had finally been approved! Tru-
ly this work cost Don Bosco so many sacrifices and so much effort, that he
came to say: 2If I had if I had known beforehand how much pain, effort, opposi-
tion and contradictions it costs to found a Religious Society, perhaps I would
not have had the courage to embark on the work.”
On 13 April, the decree of approval was drawn up, which the saint received
from the hands of Fr Berto right here in Via Sistina.
DECREE
His Holiness Pope Pius IX, in an audience granted to the under-
signed secretary of the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regu-
lars on Good Friday, April 3, 1874, after carefully studying the
letters of recommendation from bishops of those dioceses which
have houses of the Society of St. Francis de Sales, and after ob-
serving the rich fruits reaped by the said Society in the Lord's
vineyard, approved and confirmed its constitutions as written in
this copy whose original is kept in the archives of this Sacred
Congregation. He likewise approves and confirms them with this
decree, due respect being paid to the jurisdiction of the ordinaries,
as prescribed by the sacred canons and the apostolic constitu-
tions.
Given in Rome ... on April 13, 1874.
A. Cardinal Bizzarri, Prefect
Salvator, Archbishop of Seleucia, Secretary
Today the palace houses private individuals, so it is impossible to visit the interi-
or.
25

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Monastery at
Tor de’
Specchi
Via del Teatro Marcello 40
A few steps away from the Ara Coeli, the Capitol and the Imperial Forums we
find one of the places dearest to the Salesian Family: the Tor de' Specchi Mon-
astery. This has an ancient history; it was founded by St Francesca Romana at
the beginning of the 15th century and, since then, has been a point of refer-
ence for the Christian life of the capital. Many were the saints who, in many
ways, had contact with this work: St Philip Neri, St Bernardine of Siena, St Rob-
ert Bellarmine, St Gaspar del Bufalo, S Francis de Sales and St John Bosco.
Don Bosco was very attached to this Monastery and, after 1870, took an inter-
est in ensuring that it was not confiscated by the State, like so much other ec-
clesiastical property. The Superior of the Oblates, Mother Maddalena Galleffi,
and Fr Domenico Berti, Liberian Beneficiary, had begged him to take an interest
in this, the latter writing to him:
Please see what you can do for the safety of the historic house of
St. Frances of Rome belonging to her religious daughters, the Ob-
lates of Tor de' Specchi. Try to save it from the greedy confisca-
tion commission without having to go through the courts.
26
He did not wait for him to ask a second time, and immediately spoke about it to
Minister Lanza, with whom he was negotiating on the question of the bishops’
temporalities:
“Look, Don Bosco,” he finally exclaimed, “Catholics think I'm
against them, but that's not true at all!”

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Don Bosco struck while the iron was hot. “Then do me a favor!”
“What is it?”
“Please spare the convents of the Oblates of Tor de' Specchi, of
the Sisters of Charity at Bocca della Verita, and [of the Religious
of the Sacred Heart] at Trinita dei Monti.”
His reasons were that the Oblates could assert their rights
through the courts, the Sisters of Charity worked in hospitals, and
the Religious of the Sacred Heart were French nationals. Lanza
thought a moment, made notes, and assured him that these con-
vents would not be confiscated. He kept his promise.
On another occasion:
… Mother Galeffi, who sent for the lawyer handling their case with
the government. Don Bosco listened very carefully as the latter
briefed him thoroughly on the matter. Then, to the lawyer's sur-
prise, Don Bosco gave him some expert pointers on how to handle
the case to see it through to a successful conclusion. Foreseeing
the chance of an unfavorable turn of the case or an undue delay,
he advised him to write to a government official in Florence, a
man named Cutica, who had the last say in these matters. "We
are good friends," Don Bosco told him. "Even if we suffer a set-
back, he will help us by either suggesting a compromise or telling
us how to gain an ultimate victory. Then we shall have to insure
the houses and property of Tor de' Specchi in such a way that the
government may have no further pretext [to take them over]."
"Rest assured," said the lawyer, "that your advice will be carried
out faithfully."
Don Bosco was certain of the success of the
Operation and, in 1870, wrote a letter to the
Mother General in his classic imaginative lan-
27
guage, which is still preserved today in the
Monastery archives, where we read:
Map
"It was midday when the sky darkened and a
dark storm formed over the retreat and the
monastery of Tor de' Specchi. In the midst of
the thick clouds appeared giant monsters, drag-

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ons of various shapes that spewed fire, threw thunderbolts and
swords over that holy edifice. Torre de' Specchi was threatening to
be reduced to ashes, when a woman dressed as a queen, accom-
panied by many armed men, advanced towards the ferocious
monsters carrying a banner on which was written: I am the help
of Christians. As she approached, the monsters made horrible
contortions, and rushing towards each other, they dispersed, leav-
ing the sky clear. The queen then scattered a basket of beautiful
flowers that all fell on the house of Torre de' Specchi. The nuns
and their daughters, who had all been hiding in fear, came out
and, jubilant, picked up the flowers, which filled all the rooms with
a fragrant smell. I think you will understand everything...".
Fearful that their goods would be forfeited, the religious made a vow to the
Sacred Heart of Jesus: if they won the Cause against the Giunta Liquidatrice
dell’Asse Ecclesiastico [the government body established to liquidate Church
assets], the Oblates would observe the strict fast on the eve of the feast of the
Sacred Heart every year, in perpetuity. The vow was officially officially made on
10 May 1876 and in June Tor de' Specchi was declared exempt from confisca-
tion. This commitment is still scrupulously maintained today.
Don Bosco had Tor de' Specchi as his resting place from 1878 to 1882 (his
14th - 18th stay), more precisely the ‘casa dei confessori’ (now demolished),
which stood right in front of the Monastery, at no. 36 Via Tor de' Specchi
(today Via del Teatro Marcello).
How did the Saint ever come to have use of these premises? We need to go
back in time a little.
The well-deserving Mother Magdalena Galeffi, moved by zeal for
the religious instruction not only of the women of the house she
presided over, but also of many other people, and also urged on
by the desire to do charitable work for the benefit of the Oratory,
had many and varied publications sent to her by Bosco, which she
industriously tried to sell: these were books on ascetics, manuals
of piety, moral and amusing stories, and also images, medals,
29
crowns, crucifixes. From 1870 onwards, large crates of these ob-
jects were sent to her, and the oratory's booksellers sent a cata-
logue specifying the relative prices, it always being understood
that the amount had to be remitted to the sender. In a short
time, sales became very large, so that orders multiplied. The good
Mother either sent money to Turin from time to time or delivered

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it into Don Bosco's hands or entrusted it to others appointed by
him.
Finally in 1874 she thought to ask the Blessed for a more precise
account of the total amount and the sums paid, and then she
had the unpleasant surprise of finding that she still owed him a
very large sum, for which she was unable to give any explanation.
It had always been her belief that the sums sent out represented
all the proceeds from subsequent sales based on tariff prices,
whereas the situation was quite different. The reason was that the
Mother used the work of others in this shop, having entrusted a
secular person of her trust with all the bookkeeping and financial
transactions; but it seems that management of the money was
not too exact. Mother Galeffi, who had no suspicions, continued
this good work until her death, endeavouring to make up for the
deficit little by little.
After her death in January '76, the new Superior, Marquise
Canonici, having discussed the matter with Don Bosco, was able
to verify a debt of 20,133.32 lire, which did not appear to have
been paid, although the goods had been sent and received. Alt-
hough the noblewoman had the right to object that the House at
Tor de' Specchi should not be considered under obligation for the
personal contracts of the deceased, however, both in deference to
the good memory of the departed Superior and out of delicate
respect for Don Bosco, she showed a desire to settle the dispute
fairly. Then the Blessed, who was interested in having a procurator
general of the Congregation in Rome and an address for himself
and his Salesians, asked as compensation that the House of Tor
de' Specchi grant him the free use of some rooms to use as
needed.
Mother Canonici, with the consent of the Oblates, willingly
30
agreed, putting the entire second floor of a house belonging to
the Monastery and located opposite at number 36 at his disposal.
The concession could in no way exceed thirty years, excluding also
the faculty to sublet all or part of the rooms. In return Don Bosco
considered himself paid and satisfied with his credit whether he
made use of the concession for the whole thirty years or whether
he wished to use it for a shorter time or not at all. The relevant
agreement was signed the following March. Readers should not
imagine that it was a large apartment. A small door led from the

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street to a narrow, threadbare staircase, which led to five narrow,
low rooms, where one suffocated from the heat in summer and
suffered from the cold in winter.
The Monastery Chapel has a special importance for the whole Salesian Family,
because as well as often going there to celebrate the Eucharistic Sacrifice, Don
Bosco gave the first talk to Salesian Cooperators here.
Another effective means of recruiting members for the association
were the two annual conferences prescribed by the regulations on
the feasts of St. Francis de Sales and Mary, Help of Christians.
31
These conferences spread the cooperators' name far and wide
because admission was free, newspapers published reports, and
the conferences occasionally generated publications which were
widely distributed. These conferences were not held prior to
1878; it was then that Don Bosco held the first model confer-
ence in both Rome and Turin.

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Don Bosco expressly organized the Rome conference, held on Jan-
uary 29, 1878, to serve as a model for all others wherever they
might be held. He set it up carefully, choosing a place that would
attract Roman aristocracy: the chapel of the noble Oblates di Tor
de' Specchi. He also sought the support of several noble men and
women and prelates and priests and succeeded in persuading the
cardinal vicar of Rome, Monaco La Valletta, to act as co-
chairman with Cardinal [Aeneas] Sbarretti. He sent out personal
invitations with a printed program which read:
CONFERENCE OF THE SALESIAN COOPERATORS IN ROME JANU-
ARY 27, 1878
With the authorization and participation of His Eminence the
Most Reverend Cardinal Monaco La Valletta, vicar of His Holiness,
the first conference of the Salesian cooperators will be held, as
prescribed by Chapter VI, Article 4 of the regulations, at the
church of the distinguished convent of the Oblates of St. Frances
of Rome, known as Tor de' Specchi.
Entrance will be through the convent gate. Participants are asked
to go directly to the chapel.
All Salesian cooperators are cordially invited to attend. His Holi-
ness most graciously grants a plenary indulgence to all who take
part in this meeting.
As the regulations prescribe, a collection will be made for the
Salesian missionaries of [South] America, for those who are about
to leave for there, and for new Salesian houses about to be
opened in areas where their need is most felt.
Fr. John Bosco
32
The event could not have wished for a better number or quality of
participants. At 3 p.m., a Salesian priest mounted the stage spe-
cially erected according to Roman custom, and read from the life
of de Sales written by Galicia, the chapter on the Saint's love for
the poor: a reading that was listened to with keen attention by
those present. Then a celebrated cantor gave a beautiful motet
on the words Tu es Petrus, performed with organ accompaniment.

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Finally, Don Bosco in his biretta and cotta and stole delivered a
speech that lasted three quarters of an hour. He began as follows:
"Your Eminences, Reverend Fathers, honorable ladies and gentlemen—
he began—on this solemn feast day dedicated to St. Francis de
Sales—the first time the Church honors him as a Doctor of the
Church—we hold our first conference of the Salesian cooperators. It
is my great honor to address you today. The Holy Father has sent us
his apostolic blessing, granting us the precious gift of a plenary in-
dulgence, and his cardinal vicar is graciously presiding over our
meeting. We chose the church of the noble Oblates of St. Frances of
Rome as our conference site because it has been this city's first in-
stitute to go to the aid of poor boys who are cared for in Salesian
houses. I had another engagement, but strong reasons held me here
and enabled me to take part with great pleasure in this first confer-
ence of Salesian cooperators. Blessed be the Lord! May His divine
dispositions always be adored! In keeping with the aim of this first
conference, I do not intend to deliver an academic discourse or a
sermon. Let me just run through a history of the origin and growth of
the Salesian cooperators.
After narrating the history of the cooperators from their earliest be-
ginnings, he broke into a fervent exhortation to all his listeners to
help the Salesians in their mission of saving youth.
My illustrious audience—he pleaded—Protestants, unbelievers, and
sectarians of every hue leave no stone unturned in their attempts to
harm our guileless youth; like ravenous wolves they stalk the streets,
seeking to devour the lambs of Christ. They resort to every possible
means to corrupt innocent souls, wrest them from the Church's ma-
ternal bosom, and enslave and ensnare them in the clutches of Sa-
tan. They do this through publications, pictures, kindergartens,
schools, subsidies, promises, threats, and slander. What grieves us
most is that instructors, teachers, and even parents cooperate in this
campaign of destruction.
33
How can we remain cold and aloof when faced with such heart-
rending sights? Never let it be said, generous souls, that the children
of darkness are more eager to do evil than the children of light to do
good. Let each of us become a guide, teacher and savior of children.
Let us react against the deceits of evil with loving efforts of charity,
countering our publications to theirs, our classrooms to theirs, our

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boarding schools to theirs. Let us vigilantly watch our children
within the family circle, in our parishes and schools…
Don Bosco wrote that very evening to Father Rua: "Today we held
our conference, at which the cardinal vicar presided. He delivered
a magnificent short address. You will get the details. It will make
history." Doubtless, he meant the history of the Congregation, but
why not the history of the Church as well? After the formal ap-
proval of the Association of Salesian Cooperators on May 9,
1876, this conference, presided over by Rome's cardinal vicar,
was practically a public reaffirmation of the association's canoni-
cal existence.
There are many episodes that could be recounted about the saint's stay at Tor
de' Specchi, but there is one that deserves our attention, for because it shows
the righteousness and firmness of the Piedmontese saint.
The key players of the event are Don Bosco and Mons. Macchi, the Holy Fa-
ther’s personal Chamberlain, at one time a friend of Don Bosco (who placed
him in Pius IX’s good favour) and now his opponent.
A rather revealing incident occurred during Don Bosco's stay in
Rome. Monsignor Macchi was doing his utmost to avoid him. One
morning Don Bosco went to celebrate Mass in the convent of Tor
de' Specchi: While he was at the altar, the papal chamberlain
arrived at the convent. Without saying a word about the mon-
signor's presence, the mother superior invited Don Bosco to have
a cup of coffee and he obliged. The monsignor, in turn, had no
idea that Don Bosco was there. When they came face to face,
Don Bosco was astonished, but the other managed to assume a
nonchalant air. He had two elegant, somewhat impudent young
Swiss ladies with him. As soon as he saw Don Bosco, the mon-
signor, nodding toward them, remarked, "What pretty girls God
made!" Don Bosco remained silent. Unabashed, the other went on,
"What do you think of these young ladies?"
34
"I am not a connoisseur and don't know what to say," Don Bosco
replied, "but I do not think that such manner of talk befits a
priest."
"Well, if all priests were like you, things would be much better!"
the other exclaimed ironically.

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"Do not say if they were like me, but rather if they were as Our Lord
would have them be," Don Bosco corrected him.
Interrupting this unpleasant exchange, the mother superior asked the
monsignor, "When can you get Don Bosco an audience with the Holy
Father?"
"Well," he replied, "the Holy Father has so many things to do that he
can't very well see Don Bosco now, but we shall see. . . ."
"Oh! We have already had four audiences with the Holy Father this
month!" the two young women boasted.
Upon hearing this, Don Bosco could not refrain from saying, "You
have been received by the Holy Father four times in one month, and I
have been waiting several months with so many things to attend to,
and I still cannot get an audience with the Pope and return to Turin."

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Monsignor Macchi then repeated that he would try and kept up
his compliments to the young ladies. In disgust Don Bosco rose to
his feet and walked out, remarking to the mother superior who
followed him, "I never thought you would spring this kind of a
surprise on me."
"Forgive me, Don Bosco. I did it only so that you could meet the
monsignor and ask him personally for an audience."
"Well, do me the favor of seeing to it that I never meet him
again."
36

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The Vatican
Piazza San Pietro
Città del Vaticano
The Vatican is undoubtedly the hill in Rome that most saw Don Bosco; more than
any other.
On each of his trips to the Eternal City, the Saint made at least one visit to the
tomb of the Prince of the Apostles and his Successor.
Don Bosco's biography is full of events that took place in the Vatican, so it was
necessary to make a choice, giving more attention to the saint's first stay in the
city (1858), about which Don Rua has left us a detailed chronicle not only of
the visits made, but also of Don Bosco's state of mind when visiting these holy
places for the first time.
Who knows how many times he had longed for this moment!
He did not neglect to visit anything, also making use of the words of Pius IX: "Try
to see all that can be seen" (BM V, 562); the visit lasted several days, as
Lemoyne wrote.
1) The basilica
38
On February 26 Don Bosco, accompanied. by Charles De Maistre
and the cleric Rua, went to the Vatican where one can admire
what is most memorable and most magnificent from both a reli-
gious and an artistic point of view. On crossing the Sant'Angelo
Bridge, they recited the Creed to gain a fifty days' indulgence;
then they bowed to St. Michael's statue which dominates the
massive structure of Hadrian's Tomb—now a fortress—and finally
reached the immense piazza in front of St. Peter's Basilica. It was

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in this piazza that Christians were burned alive by Nero's order.
Two enormous four-tiered semi-circles totaling 284 columns and
88 pillars encircle the piazza. Two carriages abreast can fit in the
space between each of the four tiers. Above the colonnade are
96 statues of saints. At the far end of the square, a magnificent
flight of steps leads to the vestibule of the vast basilica. The ves-
tibule itself is heavily adorned with marble, paintings, and statues.
Above is the large balcony where the Pope gives his solemn bless-
ing. This imposing and majestic facade supports thirteen colossal
statues representing Our Divine Savior, with St. John the Baptist
on His right, and all the Apostles, except St. Peter, ranged on both
sides. In the middle of the piazza stands an Egyptian obelisk sur-
mounted by a cross containing a relic of the true Cross. The obe-
lisk is flanked by two spectacular fountains unceasingly spouting
jets of water into the air. Don Bosco and his companions uncov-
ered their heads and bowed to the relic of the true Cross to gain
another fifty days' indulgence.
Five doors give entrance to the basilica. A plenary indulgence may
be gained on any day of the year by visiting it, provided one has
gone to confession and Communion.
As soon as Don Bosco went in, he was so awed by its magnifi-
cence and vastness that he stood rapt in silent contemplation for
a considerable time. The marble statues of the founders of reli-
gious orders around the pillars of the central nave were the first
to catch his attention. He seemed to see before him the heavenly
Jerusalem. (MB 5, 38-539).
He certainly did not imagine that one day he too, as he had dreamed, would be
there, in the great Church at the heart of the world. In fact, on the occasion of
his canonisation (1934), a large white Carrara marble statue was placed above
the bronze statue of St Peter and the effigy of Pius IX.
A white Carrara marble statue, weighing several tons,
39
depicting the Saint with Dominic Savio and Ceferino Na-
muncurá.
But back to the story…
Map
From the bronze doors at the entrance to the Altar
of the Cathedra the basilica measures 600 feet;
the height between the floor and the ceiling of the
nave is over 150 feet. This is the largest church in

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40
Christendom; St. Paul's Cathedral in London is the next largest. "If
we were to add the length of our church at the Oratory to that of
St. Paul's," Don Bosco said laughing, "it would match the length of
St. Peter's." Each chapel in the basilica is as large as an ordinary
church.
Don Bosco started his tour of the basilica on the right aisle, mi-
nutely inspecting each chapel, altar, and picture. He studied each
statue, bas-relief, and mosaic and stood in contemplation before
the splendid tombs of various popes. He also took particular no-
tice of the tombs of the famous Countess Matilda of Canossa
who defended papal authority against Henry IV, emperor of Ger-
many, and of Christina Alexandra, queen of Sweden, a Lutheran
who, once she became aware of the falsity of her creed, relin-
quished the throne in order to become a Catholic. She died in
Rome in 1689.
Don Bosco took down notes concerning the history of everything
he saw, but above all he satisfied his piety. He entered the Chapel
of the Holy Column, so called because of a column taken from
the Temple in Jerusalem. It is believed that Our Lord leaned on it
while addressing the crowds. Surprisingly, the portion of the col-
umn touched by Our Savior's shoulders is always free of dust.
He then knelt in adoration in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacra-
ment. There the altar is dedicated to the martyrs St. Maurice and
Saints Adventor, Solutor, and Octavius, his companions, the princi-
pal patron saints of Piedmont. Near this altar is a wide staircase
leading up to the papal apartments. In the Gregorian Chapel he
noticed above the altar art ancient image of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, dating to the pontificate of Pascal II, who became Pope in
the year 1099.
He made his last stop at the Altar of the Cathedra at the very
end of the basilica. Four gigantic bronze statues stand above this
altar, supporting a stately pontifical throne made of the same
metal. The two front figures represent St. Ambrose [left] and St.
Augustine [right], and the two at the rear depict St. Athanasius
and St. John Chrysostom. The bronze throne encases a precious
relic—a wooden, ivory-paneled chair ornamented with bas-reliefs.

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It belonged to Pudens, the senator, and was used by St. Peter and
many of his successors.
After revering this symbol of the infallible magisterium of the
Church, Don Bosco knelt at the Confession of St. Peter; 3 then he
went to pay homage to the bronze statue of the Prince of Apos-
tles that stood beside a pilaster on the right. He respectfully
kissed the slightly projecting foot of the statue that was already
partially worn away by the kisses of millions of the faithful. St.
Leo the Great had this statue cast with the bronze of Jupiter's
statue that once stood on the Capitol as a memorial of his peace
treaty with Attila.
Don Bosco had begun his tour of the basilica at eleven in the
morning, and now, at five in the afternoon, he felt exhausted.
Accordingly, he returned to the Quattro Fontane. (MB V, 539-
540).
As previously planned, at 6:30 on the following morning, March 3,
he went to St. Peter's with Rua and Count Charles De Maistre for
a more thorough visit of the Confession of St. Peter. They first
admired the papal altar which was set majestically on seven white
marble steps [not counting the predella] under the center of the
dome. In front of the altar there is a large rectangular crypt, en-
closed on the top by a rich balustrade around which 112 lamps
set on gilded metal cornucopias burn unceasingly. A double mar-
ble staircase leads to the Altar of the Confession located beneath
the papal altar. The crypt is adorned with precious marble, gilded
stuccoes, and twenty-four bronze bas-reliefs representing the
main events of St. Peter's life. Here Don Bosco was privileged to
offer Holy Mass. The crypt is also adorned with two very ancient
images of Saints Peter and Paul on sheets of silver. St. Peter's
tomb rests below the crypt.
IMAGE: Fr Michael Rua was among the first to remain with Don
41
Bosco.He was the first priest from the Oratory, becoming Don
Bosco’s right hand. He became his successor and governed the
Congregation from 1888 ti 1910. His cause for canonization is
under way.]
After a long prayer, Don Bosco went back upstairs for a look at
the 450-foot-wide transept. Above the papal altar is the majestic

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dome, whose internal diameter measures 1371/2 feet. Its height
and size and its elaborate mosaics—the work of the most famous
artists —are truly breathtaking. The dome is supported by four
massive piers, each measuring about 235 feet in circumference.
Each pier is dedicated to a saint and has a loggia housing his
relics. The four relics are: Veronica's Veil, a portion of the Holy
Cross, the Holy Lance, and the skull of St. Andrew. Veronica's Veil
is believed to be the cloth with which Our Divine Savior wiped His
blood-smeared Face on his way to Calvary, leaving upon it the
imprint of His features before giving it back to St. Veronica. Relia-
ble persons say that in 1849 this Holy Face was seen to exude
blood several times and even to change color, thus altering the
original facial features. Canons of the basilica testified to the ac-
curacy of these reports.
Absorbed in such thoughts that were so soul-stirring for the
faithful, Don Bosco approached the Altar of the Cathedra and,
after again paying homage to it, turned to the southern part of
the basilica to look at the tombs of other popes and the sumptu-
ous chapels and altars, especially that of the Virgin of the Col-
umn, so called because of the image of the Blessed Virgin painted
on a [marble] column [transferred here in 1607] from the an-
cient Constantine basilica. He also paid his respects to the tombs
of several saints: the Apostles Simon and Jude, St. Leo the Great,
SS. Leo II, III, and IV, St. Boniface IV, St. Leo IX, St. Gregory the
Great, and St. John Chrysostom. His last stop was at the Baptist-
ry, the last chapel of the side aisle, whose font is made of a shell
of [red] porphyry. It was already 12:30, and Count Charles De
Maistre suggested that they postpone their visit to the dome to
another day. (MB V, 547-548).
2) The Cupola
On March 8, a beautiful day, Don Bosco went up to St. Peter's
great dome. Canon Lantiesi had procured the necessary passes for
him and his friends. That morning Don Bosco said Mass at St.
Francis Xavier's altar in the Church of the Gesù as he had prom-
ised Count Xavier Provano of Collegno, and by 9 o'clock he was at
St. Peter's with Count Charles De Maistre and the cleric Rua. They
showed their passes and were ushered up a beautiful staircase. At
the roof level of the basilica they read the names of all the fa-
43

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44
mous people, including kings and princes, who had made the as-
cent to the very ball atop the dome.
They were delighted to see the names of several kings of Pied-
mont and of many members of the House of Savoy. Before pro-
ceeding further up, they strolled over the roof of the huge basili-
ca. It seemed to be a vast, paved piazza with a perennially spout-
ing fountain. They also visited the larger bell which is about ten
feet in diameter.
Afterward they went up a narrow spiral staircase that opened into
the first and second interior balustrades of the dome; they walked
around both of them. Here Don Bosco studied each mosaic indi-
vidually, and he noticed that although they had appeared to be
small from below, they were really enormous. When he looked
down to the floor of the basilica, the people moving about
seemed to be no bigger than pigmies, and the papal altar itself,
crowned by its hundred-foot-high bronze canopy, looked no larger
than an oversized chair.
They continued their climb and reached the top of the lantern
above the dome. They were now over 360 feet above the ground.
All about them, the immense horizon faded off into the distance.
There still remained the ball atop the lantern, and to reach it one
had to climb some twenty feet up a vertical ladder as though
through a tunnel.
Undaunted, Don Bosco and his two companions made the ascent.
The ball has circular openings all around and is large enough to
accommodate sixteen people comfortably. Here, at a height of
some 400 feet, Don Bosco began to talk about the Oratory, lov-
ingly reminiscing about his boys. Again he reaffirmed his determi-
nation to work for their eternal salvation. After a while, he began
the descent with his friends and did not stop until they reached
the floor of the basilica. Then, feeling a bit tired, he sat down and
listened to a sermon that was being preached just then.
He liked the preacher's refinement of speech and graceful ges-
tures as he spoke on the observance of civil laws. When the ser-
mon was over, seeing that he still had some time before lunch,

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Don Bosco walked into the sacristy, which is truly magnificent and
worthy of the basilica.
It was now 11:30 and he was still fasting, so he had some lunch
with his companions. (MB V, 554-556).
3) The Pio Cristiano Museum
Together with Mr Carlo De Maistre, Don Bosco went to visit Monsignor Borro-
meo, His Holiness’ majordomo. They were very well received, and after talking a
lot about the things of Piedmont and Milan, his homeland, the Monsignor took
Don Bosco’, Carlo De Maistre’s and Rua’s names to put them on the list of
those who wished to receive the blessed palm from the hands of the Holy Fa-
ther.
The Vatican museums are located around the courtyards of the
papal palace where the monsignor had his office. Don Bosco visit-
ed them and saw some truly magnificent exhibits, but he lingered
particularly in the vast, oblong Christian museum to see a display
of the various instruments of torture used on the martyrs by the
enemies of the Church. He also admired many paintings of Our
Savior, Our Lady and the saints—among others, the picture of the
Good Shepherd bearing a little lamb on His shoulder. All the
paintings had been found in the catacombs…
From the Vatican they returned to the heart of Rome and crossed
Piazza Scossacavalli, where the editorial office of the renowned
Civilta Cattolica was located. He called on them, as he had prom-
ised Father [Anthonyl Bresciani he would, and was delighted to
see that the more important staff writers were Piedmontese.
By now Don Bosco felt the need to call it a day and go home,
and so, without further ado, he headed that way. He had barely
reached the Quirinal when Mr. Foccardi saw him pass in front of
his store with Count De Maistre. He immediately invited them in,
and after showing them around he offered to drive them home.
Although Don Bosco disliked traveling in a coach, he accepted the
offer with good grace. By a patient daily tolerance of both the
rudeness of opponents and the importunate attention of friends,
Don Bosco practiced virtue throughout his life.
45

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Wishing to enjoy his company longer, Foccardi had the coach take
a long, rambling course that ended at nightfall.
"As soon as I arrived home," Don Bosco wrote, "a letter was
handed to me. It said: 'The Reverend Don Bosco is informed that
His Holiness graciously grants him an audience tomorrow, March
9, at 11:45 A.M.' Although I had eagerly been waiting for this
summons, it filled me with excitement. For the rest of the evening
I could speak of nothing but the Pope and the audience."
Cardinal Antonelli had kept his word. (MB 5, 556-557).
4) First papal audience
As we have already said, the main reason Don Bosco went down to Rome was
46
to be received in audience by the Holy Father.
The first audience, so eagerly awaited, would go down in history, recounted in
every detail by Don Bosco himself and Don Rua, who accompanied him as sec-
retary.
Cardinal Antonelli, Secretary of State, had promised Don Bosco that he would
take an interest that he would soon be received in audience by the Supreme
Pontiff.

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And finally the long-awaited moment arrived…
On March 9 1858—the day scheduled for his papal audience—
Don Bosco said Mass in the Church of Santa Maria sopra Miner-
va, one of the most beautiful and magnificent churches in Rome.
Beneath its main altar [in a glass coffin] lies the body of St.
Catherine of Siena. After Mass, Don Bosco called on [Francis]
Cardinal Gaude whom he had to consult before seeing the Pope.
He was given immediate attention and received the desired advice
and information; then he rushed home and hastened to draft the
petitions he intended to present to the Holy Father.
It was not quite eleven o'clock when Don Bosco and the cleric
Rua—dressed in mantellettas—arrived at the Vatican with a thou-
sand things on their minds. Thus preoccupied, they walked up the
stairs to the papal apartment which was guarded by Swiss and
Noble Guards. The guards bowed to them, took the letter that
Don Bosco presented, and led them through several halls to the
Pope's antechamber. Since there were others ahead of them, they
had to wait some ninety minutes.
"We spent the time looking about us," Don Bosco wrote. "The halls were huge,
imposing, and carpeted, but not extravagant. The antechamber floor was cov-
ered with a plain green carpet, the brocade on the walls was plain red silk, and
the chairs were unupholstered. A single oversized chair on a somewhat elabo-
rate dais marked this as a papal hall. We were pleased to note all this, remem-
bering the unjust caustic accusations that some people level at the pomp and
splendor of the papal court."
Suddenly a bell rang and the papal majordomo beckoned to Don
Bosco and Rua. The summons came as a shock to Don Bosco,
and he had to get a grip on himself so as not to falter. "This is it!"
he said. "Let's go." Rua followed him, carrying a deluxe edition of
all the issues of Letture Cattoliche. At last they stood in Pius IX's
47
presence and approached him with the ritual triple genuflection—
at the entrance, halfway, and at his feet. Their apprehension al-
most completely vanished when they saw that Pius IX was the
most friendly, venerable, and gentle person they could imagine.
Unable to kiss his foot since he was seated at his desk, they
kissed his hand. Rua, remembering a promise that he had made to
his companions, kissed it twice: once for himself and once for
them. The Holy Father then motioned to them to rise and come in

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48
front of him. They did so, but Don Bosco, wishing to abide by pro-
tocol when speaking to the Pope, again knelt down.
"Don't bother," the Pope said. "Remain standing."
We must note here that the majordomo had introduced Don
Bosco to the Pope as "Bosser."
"Are you Piedmontese?" the Pope asked Don Bosco.
"Yes, Your Holiness. Being in the presence of the Vicar of Christ is
the most wonderful thing that could ever have happened to me."
"What work do you do?"
"Your Holiness, I am occupied in educating the young and publish-
ing Lecture Cattoliche."
"The education of youth has always been an important mission,
but today it is more essential than ever. There is another priest in
Turin who works with boys."
At this point Don Bosco realized that his name had been mispro-
nounced, while at the same time the Pope became aware that
this priest was Don Bosco, director of the St. Francis de Sales
Oratory. He now became much more cordial. "What exactly do you
do in your hospice?" he continued.
"A little of everything, Holy Father. I say Mass, preach, hear con-
fessions, and teach. Occasionally I go to the kitchen to give the
cook suggestions. Sometimes I also sweep the church."
The Holy Father smiled and asked about the boys and the clerics,
as well as about the oratories with which he was already ac-
quainted. He also inquired how many priests were helping him,
what their names were, and who collaborated with him in the
publication of Letture Cattoliche. Then, turning to the cleric Rua,
he asked him if he were already a priest.
"Not yet, Holy Father," Rua replied. "I'm now in my third year of
theology."

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50
"What treatises are you studying now?"
"We're taking Baptism, Confirmation, and. . . ." The Pope interrupt-
ed him, remarking: "Those are the easiest." He then again smilingly
turned to Don Bosco and said: "I still remember the boys' contri-
bution that you sent to me at Gaeta and the fine sentiments ac-
companying it."
Don Bosco took advantage of this remark to tell him of the warm
attachment his boys had for the Pope and begged him to accept,
as a token of this, a copy of Letture Cattoliche.
"Holy Father," he said, "on behalf of the management of Letture
Cattoliche I wish to offer you a bound copy of all the issues that
have been published up to now. The binding was done by our
boys.
"How many boys do you care for?"
"About two hundred, Holy Father; fifteen are bookbinders."
"Good," he answered. "I want to send each one of them a medal."
He went into an adjoining room and soon returned with fifteen
small medals of the Immaculate Conception. "These are for your
bookbinders," he said to Don Bosco. Then he added: "This medal is
for your companion." He turned to the cleric Rua and gave him a
larger medal. Then he handed Don Bosco a small box which con-
tained a still larger medal and said: "This is for you." Since they
had knelt to receive these valued gifts, the Holy Father again told
them to rise.
Thinking that they were ready to leave, Pius IX was about to dis-
miss them when Don Bosco said: "Your Holiness, I have something
special to tell you."
"Very well," the Pope replied.
Rua made the ritual genuflection in the middle of the room and
withdrew.

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The Holy Father spoke some more with. Don Bosco about the ora-
tories and their good influence, and he praised Letture Cattoliche,
telling him to encourage his collaborators whom he cordially
blessed. Among other things, he repeated with particular pleasure:
"When I think of these boys, I am still moved by the thirty-three
lire they sent to me at Gaeta. Poor lads! How generous of them
to give up the little they had It was indeed a great sacrifice for
them!"
Don Bosco replied: "We would like to have done more, but we
were very happy to hear that Your Holiness was pleased with our
humble offering. I wish to assure Your Holiness that large crowds
of boys in Turin love you tenderly. Whenever they have a chance
to speak of the Vicar of Jesus Christ, they do so most gladly."
The Holy Father was quite happy to hear this. Returning to the
topic of the oratories, he himself proposed the question:
"My dear Father, you have set many things in motion, but what
would happen to all of them if you were to die?"
Don Bosco, who was about to broach this subject, seized the op-
portunity and replied that he had come to Rome expressly for the
purpose of providing for the future of the oratories. Handing him
Archbishop Fransoni's letter of recommendation, he added: "I have
come to implore Your Holiness to tell me on what basis an insti-
tute could be founded that would be suitable to our times."
The Pope read the recommendation of the dauntless exiled arch-
bishop and then questioned Don Bosco on his plans and aims.
Very satisfied with the answers, he said: "I see that we are of one
mind."
He then exhorted Don Bosco to draw up the constitutions of his
51
society, and he made several important suggestions in this regard.
Among other things, he told him: "Set up your society in such a
way that the government cannot interfere with it. Yet, don't be
content to bind its members only with simple promises, for in that
case the link between members, or between superiors and sub-
jects, would not be adequate. You could never be sure of them,
nor could you count on them for any length of time. Formulate

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your constitutions according to these principles, and then we shall
examine them. It is no easy matter to be in the world and go un-
noticed. Nevertheless, if this is God's will, He will enlighten you.
Pray. Then come back in a few days, and I shall tell you what I
think."
Pius IX had the ability to grasp things quickly, and he was swift in
his replies. In five minutes one could discuss matters with him
that would have required an hour with others. Thanks to this, they
not only discussed a new kind of religious congregation but sever-
al other things as well. Don Bosco also asked and obtained vari-
ous favors—among them the privilege of a private chapel for the
Oratory and for the hospice of Father Francis Montebruno in
Genoa.' Don Bosco also presented Father Cafasso's petition con-
cerning an extraordinary indulgence at the point of death. 2 He
begged the Holy Father to grant it and to extend the same favor
to him personally, to all those residing at the Oratory of St. Fran-
cis de Sales, and to an unspecified number of benefactors. Pius IX
generously consented and promised a rescript for Father Cafasso.
Lastly, Don Bosco asked his blessing for all who were in any way
connected with him and his work. The cleric Rua was then called
back in and both knelt. "I'll bless you with all my heart," the Holy
Father said in a quivering voice, while they, too, were deeply
moved: "Benedictio Dei Omnipotentis, Partris et Filii et Spiritus
Sancti descendat super te, super socium tuum, super tuos in
sortem Domini vocatos, super adiutores et benefactores tuus et
super omnes pueros tuos, et super omnia opera tua, et maneat
nunc et semper et semper et semper"
Toward the end of the audience, Pius IX asked Don Bosco if he had already vis-
ited St. Peter's, and he gave him full permission to see every monument and
outstanding thing in the Holy City, instructing the papal majordomo to open
52 every door to him. "Try to see all that can be seen," he told him.
DON BOSCO’S COMMENT
"The goodness of the Holy Father," Don Bosco wrote, "and my own
delight in talking to him had protracted the audience beyond the
half hour—in itself a notable time considering the person granting
the audience—and had even delayed his lunch. We left the Vatican
full of esteem and veneration for the Holy Father, and on the way

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home we felt overwhelmed by the numerous proofs of his benevo-
lence. The memory of this audience will certainly be indelibly im-
pressed on our hearts. Through personal experience we can say
that one need only approach the Pope to find in him a father
concerned, above all, with the welfare of his sons, the faithful all
over the world.
Anyone who hears him speak cannot help saying to himself: 'There
is something in this man that one does not find in others!' "
5) St Peter’s Tomb
Don Bosco took advantage of the Pope's permission to visit the underground
part of the Vatican Basilica.
This space between the old and new floor constitutes precisely those dungeons
also known as the the Vatican Grottoes. Here were placed almost all the monu-
ments that existed in the ancient church, among including valuable works of
sculpture and painting: and mosaic paintings, sepulchres of Popes sarcophagi of
famous people, statues, tombstones and altars.
Don Bosco then told the boys:

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54
"It would take a book to tell all the wonderful things I saw. I'll just
mention one, a picture of Mary, known as "La Bocciata"—a very
ancient image on an altar of the crypt. It got its name from the
following episode. Deliberately or accidentally, a young man hit
the eye of Mary in this picture with a boccia. Tradition has it that
blood streamed from the forehead and eye, staining the cheek
which is still visibly blood-red. Two drops of blood spurted side-
ways over a stone, and this stone is now carefully preserved be-
hind an iron gate."
Don Bosco found most fascinating the memory of the Prince of
Apostles. He spent the greater part of the day exploring the
"Confession of St. Peter" in the company of Monsignor Borromeo.
The area where St. Peter's tomb is located was opened for him.
He minutely inspected every corner, the walls, the ceiling, and the
floor. He asked if there was anything else to see.
"Nothing," he was told. "But precisely where is St. Peter's tomb?"
"Underneath here, deep down in the very spot it occupied when
the old basilica was still standing. It has not been opened for
centuries, for fear that someone might try to break off pieces for
relics."
"I'd like to get to it."
"Impossible!"
"I've been told that there is a way of seeing it, though."
"I've shown you everything to be seen; anything more is strictly
forbidden."
"But the Pope has ordered that nothing be kept from me. Should
he ask me about it when I see him again, regretfully I'll have to
tell him the truth."
Monsignor sent for some keys and opened what looked like the
door of a closet. It disclosed an opening on the floor. Don Bosco
looked into it, but it was pitch-black.

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"Are you satisfied now?" Monsignor asked.
"Not yet; I'd like to see what's below."
"How?"
"Send for a candlelighter."
It was brought and lowered into the hole, but the flame of the
wick instantly died out. Besides, the candlelighter was far too
short.
Another one with a much longer handle and an iron hook at the
end made it possible to touch the lid covering St. Peter's sarcoph-
agus, some twenty-five feet below. Tapping upon it lightly with the
iron hook, one could tell from the sound that it had struck first
iron and then marble. This confirmed what ancient historians had
written.
Don Bosco diligently checked everything so as to be able to cor-
rect accordingly his biography of St. Peter based [so far] on the
writings of Saxton, Cuccagni, and the Bollandists.
In the meantime, the Holy Father had expressed his wish that Don Bosco attend
the divine and magnificent spectacle of all the functions of Holy Week. So he
had asked Borromeo to invite him on his behalf, and to procure a place for him
from which he could be a spectator of the sacred rites at ease.
6) Holy Week in Rome
On the following day, Sunday, March 28, Don Bosco and Rua got
to St. Peter's hours before services began. Count Charles De
Maistre escorted them to the diplomats' section where Don Bosco
and Rua had reserved seats. Don Bosco paid strict attention, for
55
he knew how important these rituals were. At his side was a
Protestant English nobleman who seemed impressed by the sol-
emn rites. At a certain moment a soprano of the Sistine Chapel
Choir sang a solo so exquisitely that Don Bosco was moved to
tears, while the Englishman became ecstatic. When it was over,
the latter turned to Don Bosco, exclaiming: "Post hoc, Paradisus
[After this, Paradise]." Not knowing what language Don Bosco
spoke, he had used Latin.

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Not long afterward, this nobleman became a Catholic, was or-
dained a priest, and eventually was consecrated a bishop.
After the Pope had blessed the palms, the diplomatic corps filed
in turn toward his throne to receive them from his hands. Don
Bosco and Rua also knelt at his feet and received their palm. This
privilege had been Pius IX's idea.
After all, was not Don Bosco an ambassador of the Most High?
Later, when he was back at the home of the Rosminians, Rua of-
fered his palm to Father Pagani, who was appreciative of the ges-
ture and the gift.
To enable Don Bosco to have a close look at all the Holy Week
services, even those in the Sistine Chapel, Cardinal Marini, one of
the two cardinal assistant deacons at the throne, appointed him
his trainbearer. Thus, vested in purple, Don Bosco stood quite
close to the Pope throughout all the services and thoroughly en-
joyed the Gregorian chant and the polyphony of Allegri and Pale-
strina. On Maundy Thursday the Mass was offered by Mario Car-
dinal Mattel, the oldest of the suburban bishops, rather than by
the cardinal deacon of the Sacred College, because the latter was
unable to officiate. Don Bosco followed the Pope as he carried
the Blessed Sacrament processionally to the repository in the
Cappello. Paolina and again to the balcony from which all Rome
awaited his solemn blessing. In addition, he was present at the
Washing of Feet of thirteen priests, also done by the Pope, and at
the commemorative supper that followed at which they were
waited on by the Vicar of Jesus Christ himself. These two services
were held in two spacious galleries of the Vatican.
As regards Good Friday, we found some information in a booklet
published in Paris in 1883 under the title Dom Bosco a Paris par
56
an ancient Magistrat. On page 66 we read:
On Good Friday [April 2, 1858], a French magistrate was kneel-
ing beside a priest in the Cappella Paolina in Rome in adoration.
of the Eucharistic Jesus in the repository. An Italian friend who
was accompanying the magistrate said to him as they were leav-
ing: "You had a saint beside you—Don Bosco. He is the St. Vincent
de Paul of Turin."

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But not of Turin only. Of Italy, too, and, God willing, of the whole world!
7) Second audience
Returning to the Quirinal, at the crack of dawn he received an invitation to go
to the Vatican. The Pope wished to spend a long time with him, and received
him in the most benevolent and paternal manner.
… without further ado he spoke to him [substantially] as follows: "I
have been thinking about your project, and. I am convinced that it
will do a great deal of good for the young. Go ahead with it. How
else can your oratories survive and their spiritual needs be at-
tended to? I think that in these sad times we need a new type of
religious congregation, one based on these two premises: it must
have vows, for without them unity of spirit and purpose could not
be maintained, but these vows must be 'simple' so that they may
be easily dispensed from, lest the ill will of some members cause
unrest and discord. Its rules must be gentle and easy to observe.
The garb and practices of piety must be such as not to draw at-
tention. Perhaps to this end, it would be better to call it a
'society' rather than a 'congregation' Briefly, find a way to make
each member a religious in the eyes of the Church but a free
citizen in the eyes of the world."
Pius IX then mentioned some congregations whose rules could
offer guidelines in drafting those of this new congregation. At this
point, Don Bosco humbly presented the manuscript of his consti-
tutions to Pius IX, more or less in these terms: "Holy Father, here
you will find the spirit and the norms that for twenty years have
guided those who devoted themselves to the work of the orato-
ries. Even before corning to Rome, I did my best to give the vari-
ous articles a systematized form, and during these last few days I
have made corrections and additions to meet the suggestions
Your Holiness graciously gave me the first time I had the honor to
come into your presence. In drafting the various chapters and in
attempting to implement your suggestions, I most probably blun-
57
dered. Therefore, I now entrust this whole matter to Your Holiness
and to anyone you will delegate to read, correct, add, or delete
for the greater glory of God and the welfare of souls."
Taking the manuscript, the Pope leafed through some pages. Then
he again approved the purpose that had inspired them and placed
the manuscript aside on a small table. Thus the Vicar of Jesus

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Christ himself decided that Don Bosco should found a new reli-
gious society. The Pope then had Don Bosco narrate in detail the
beginnings of the Turin oratories and the reasons that had
prompted him to start them. He wanted to know what was being
done, the manner in which it was done, and what obstacles he
had had to overcome. When he heard of the many difficulties,
threats, persecutions, and enticements with which Don Bosco had
had to contend, seeing some similarity with his own tribulations
during the revolution, he exclaimed: "Yes, how true indeed! Ambu-
lavimus per vias difficiles [We have gone through a hard journey]."
With a smile, Don Bosco replied: "But with God's grace, non las-
sati sumus in via iniquitatis [we did not bog down in the way of
iniquity]." Then he went on to tell of the great good that had
been accomplished through God's infinite mercy and of the many
very virtuous boys who had lived and were still living at the Ora-
tory. As the talk then passed on to Dominic Savio, Don Bosco told
the Pope about the boy's vision concerning England. Pius IX lis-
tened to his report with great interest and delight, and he then
said: "I am very much interested in England. This confirms my
resolve to keep striving for its conversion. I shall regard this ac-
count at the very least as the advice of a good soul."
This disclosure regarding Savio brought another thought to the
Pope's mind. Looking fixedly at Don Bosco, he asked if he, too,
had ever had any supernatural revelation about his undertakings.
Then, seeing that Don Bosco was apparently ill at ease, Pius IX
insisted that he be told of any event, no matter how slight, which
might have even the appearance of the supernatural. In filial
trust, Don Bosco told him everything he had seen in his extraordi-
nary dreams—which had already been verified in part—beginning
with his dream at the age of nine.'
The Pope listened with great attention and emotion, and he did
not try to conceal the fact that he attached great importance to
58
what Don Bosco had told him. He then said to him, more or less
in these words: "When you get back to Turin, write down these
dreams and everything else you have told me, minutely and in
their natural sense. Save all this as a legacy for your congrega-
tion, so that it may serve as an encouragement and norm for
your sons."

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The Pope took this occasion to praise very highly and warmly
those engaged in the education of youth and to mention the good
work being done in Rome by oratories and numerous other insti-
tutions, singling out St. Michael's Hospice. When Don Bosco re-
mained silent, the Pope sensed that he was not entirely of the
same opinion. "You must know something that I don't know," he
remarked.
"I beg you to excuse me if I do not feel I should make a comment,
but if you order me to do so, I shall speak," Don Bosco replied.
"Then I order you to do so!"
Therefore, sparingly and in a prudent manner, Don Bosco informed
the Holy Father of what prominent people thought—and wished
that the Pope would learn—of St. Michael's Hospice. Pius IX was
surprised, and he immediately promised to remedy the situation.
This led him to inquire about the trades, crafts, and academic
courses offered to the Oratory boys.
Then he asked Don Bosco: "Of all the subjects you have studied,
which did you like best?"
"Holy Father, my knowledge is not vast, but the one thing I love
and wish is scire Jesum Christum et hunc crucifixum—to know
Jesus Christ and Him crucified. [1 Cor 2:2] The Pope remained
thoughtful for a while. Then, as though wishing to put him to the
test, he said that he had been very pleased with the retreat Don
Bosco had given to the women prisoners, and that, as a token of
his esteem and affection, he had decided to make him a mon-
signor with the rank of domestic prelate. Don Bosco, who had
never been interested in honors, humbly thanked him, but he de-
clined the offer in his usual witty and friendly manner, saying:
"Your Holiness, that would never do! My boys wouldn't recognize
me any longer and I'd lose their trust. If they had to call me
59
'Monsignor,' they wouldn't dare come near me and pull me this
way and that as they do now. Besides, everybody would think that
the title had brought me wealth. How could I ever again muster
enough courage to go begging for the Oratory and other pro-
jects? Holy Father, it is far better for me to always remain plain
Don Bosco!"

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The Pope admired his charming humility. Without further ado, Don
Bosco went on to ask his permission to circulate Letture Cattoli-
che in the Papal States, and, if possible, with postai exemption.
Pius IX promised to do so, but he advised him to see the cardinal
vicar and inform him of the Pope's promise. He then remarked
that he had glanced at his Storia d'Italia and Letture Cattoliche.
He highly praised Don Bosco's lives of the popes of the first three
centuries, and he encouraged him to continue the series as a val-
uable service to the Church, especially at that time. To his con-
gratulations he added: "With your works you bring my predeces-
sors back to life, especially those of whom the faithful have little
knowledge." Then, after questioning him on his sources for that
series, he granted him the personal faculties he had requested —
the lifetime faculty of hearing confessions in omni loco Ecclesiae
[everywhere] and a dispensation from reciting the Divine Office.
Finally, as if he had not been generous enough, Pius IX granted
him every faculty he could think of, with these words: "I grant you
all I have the power to grant." He then gave him his blessing.
IMPRESSIONS
Don Bosco left, deeply moved by the Pope's graciousness, and he told Rua what
had taken place during the memorable audience. His dispensation from saying
the breviary greatly eased his delicate conscience, because he was often busy
from morning to night with confessions, audiences, and various other tasks.
However, he continued to say his breviary in full as long as he was able, or at
least in part, even after his sight dimmed and his health declined.
The Holy Father's affection for Don Bosco was truly striking! From then on, Pius
IX was always his father and friend. He constantly held him in high regard,
looked forward to conversing with him, sought his advice, and repeatedly of-
fered him ecclesiastical honors in an attempt to keep him nearby. But Don
Bosco, though always obedient to the Pope's wishes, did not feel that he could
accept these offers. He sought honors for others but accepted none for him-
self.
61
8) Easter Sunday
On April 4, artillery salvos announced the dawn of Easter from
Castel Sant'Angelo. Around ten o'clock in the morning, Pius IX
entered the basilica on the sedia gestatoria to sing the Mass and
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After Mass the cortege of bishops and cardinals wound its way up
to the central balcony.
Together with Cardinal Marini and a bishop, Don Bosco stood for
a moment near the richly draped balcony railing on which three
golden papal tiaras were displayed. The cardinal whispered to Don
Bosco: "Just look!" Don Bosco was dumbfounded. A crowd of
200,000 people, eyes riveted on the balcony, thronged the piaz-
za. The roofs, windows, and terraces of all nearby buildings were
equally crowded. A French army contingent occupied part of the
area between the obelisk and the basilica steps, while papal in-
fantry battalions were lined up to the right and left. Behind them
stood cavalry and artery detachments. Thousands of carriages
were packed in the two side wings of the piazza near Bernini's
colonnades and in front of the buildings in the background.
Groups of people stood up in the carriages—especially in those
hired for the occasion —and they seemed to tower above the
crowd. It was a spectacle beyond description.
When Don Bosco had started moving with the cortege, the Pope
was still venerating the precious relics on display, and he thought
that it would be some time before the Holy Father would reach
the balcony. He was so completely absorbed in contemplating
that immense crowd from all nations that he did not notice that
both Cardinal Marini and the bishop had disappeared. When he
turned, he found himself wedged between the shafts of the sedia
gestatoria and the railing of the balcony—a fine predicament! Car-
dinals, bishops, masters of ceremonies, and chairbearers stood
solidly about, making it impossible to slip through their ranks. It
would have been improper to face the Pope or turn his back to
him, but it was an absurdity to stand where he was! Having no
other choice, he edged along sideways, only to realize that now
the tip of the Pope's foot rested on his shoulder. At that moment
a silence so solemn fell on the square that one could have heard
62
the buzzing of a fly. Even the horses stood still. Perfectly poised
and attentive to everything, Don Bosco observed that only a sin-
gle neigh and the striking of the clock were heard while the Pope,
who was seated, read several ritual prayers.
Seeing that the floor of the balcony was strewn with branches
and flowers, Don Bosco stooped to pick a few blossoms and put
them between the pages of the book he was holding. At last Pius

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IX stood up. He stretched out his arms and, raising his hands to
heaven, reached out toward the bowing multitude and blessed
them. As he sang the blessing, his booming voice rang out sol-
emnly and sonorously and reached up to the very end of the piaz-
za and across the adjacent Piazza Rusticucci up to the Civilta
Cattolica building.
The multitude responded to the Pope's blessing with an immense,
fervent ovation. Then Joseph Cardinal Ugolini and Cardinal Marini
read the brief granting a plenary indulgence in Latin and in Italian.
Don Bosco had knelt down for the blessing, and when he got to
his feet again, the Pope was gone. Bells were pealing joyously,
cannons fired salvos from Castel San'Angelo, and military bands
filled the air with the blast of trumpets.
Accompanied by his trainbearer, Cardinal Marini boarded his car-
riage, but as soon as they were on the way, Don Bosco got car-
sick. He put up with his discomfort for a while, but finally he had
to tell the cardinal that he felt ill. On his advice, he sat outside
beside the coachman, but as this too proved useless, he got down
to walk. He was still wearing a violet cassock, and this might have
invited attention and snickers if he had walked all by himself. Gra-
ciously, the cardinal's secretary, a very kind and understanding
priest, got out of the carriage and walked with him to the cardi-
nal's palace.
His momentary indisposition, brought on also by the emotions of
that morning, soon ceased, but not so the hilarity of his many
Piedmontese friends—Father John Tamietti of Cambiano among
them—all of whom had seen him on that balcony. As soon as they
met him, they said: "You surely made a hit up there where every-
body could see you!" Unperturbed, Don Bosco showed them the
flowers he had picked up as keepsakes. He dried them and kept
them ever afterward as a precious souvenir of the day.
63
9) Third audience
Don Bosco returned on 6 April for a special audience with Pius IX together with
cleric Rua and Fr Murialdo, admitted to the Vatican through the kind interven-
tion of Don Bosco himself.
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D. Bosco was introduced.
Looking somewhat severe, the Pope asked: "Don Bosco, where on
earth did you thrust yourself during the papal blessing on Easter
Sunday? Of all places, right in front of the Pope, your shoulder
propping his feet as though he needed Don Bosco's support!"
"Holy Father," Don Bosco explained quietly and humbly, "I was
caught unawares. I beg your pardon if I offended you in any way."
"Dare you add insult to injury by asking if you offended me?" Don
Bosco scanned his face; the Pope's severe expression was not
genuine, and a smile was beginning to break through. "What on
earth got into your head to pick up flowers at that moment?" the
Pope went on. "It took all the seriousness a pope can muster not
to burst into laughter." Pius IX smiled broadly. Without further ado
he benevolently went on to say that he had carefully examined
the constitutions from beginning to end. Picking up the manuscript
from the table, he handed it to him, saying: "Give it to Cardinal
Gaude. He will examine it and in due time will contact you." Don
Bosco quickly leafed through it and noticed that Pius IX himself
had graciously jotted down some remarks and corrections.
The Holy Father considered passing it on immediately to a com-
mission for study, but Don Bosco asked permission to experiment
with the constitutions and resubmit them to the Holy See. Pius IX
agreed and took this occasion to brief Don Bosco on the proce-
dure he should follow to have his society and constitutions ap-
proved.
64
Don Bosco then reminded him of his several requests for personal
indulgences on behalf of some benefactors and promoters of sa-
cred music. The Pope kindly assured him that he would see to
them. Thereupon Don Bosco requested a plenary indulgence for all
the festive oratory boys to be gained on a day of their choice,
and a papal blessing for those working in the oratories, for the
distributors of Letture Cattoliche, and for the boarders at the Or-
atory of St. Francis de Sales. Lastly, he requested special faculties
for Father Morizio and Father [Felix] Reviglio. Pius IX graciously
obliged. "And now, Holy Father," continued Don Bosco, "please be
so good as to give me a special message for my boys, a thought
for me to relay to them from the Vicar of Christ."

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"The presence of God!" the Pope exclaimed. "Tell your boys, in my name,
ever to be mindful of it. Now, are you sure you have nothing else to ask?
Is there something you especially desire?"
"Holy Father," Don Bosco replied, "you have graciously granted all my re-
quests. I have no further desire other than to thank you wholeheartedly."
"And yet, I know you still want something."
Don Bosco was at a loss.
"Well, now," the Pope added, "don't you want to make your boys happy
when you go back to them?"
"Of course, Your Holiness."
"Then, wait a moment."
We must say that, just before this, Father Murialdo, the cleric Rua, and
Father Cerutti of Varazze, chancellor of the Genoa archdiocese, had been
ushered in. They were surprised at the Pope's familiarity with Don Bosco
and by the Pope's action, as he scooped up with both hands a goodly
number of gold coins from a little safe. Handing them to Don Bosco, he
said: "Give your boys a nice treat."
The effect on Don Bosco of such unexpected and exquisite fatherly
thoughtfulness can hardly be described. Then the Pope very graciously
turned to Don Bosco's companions, and after blessing their rosaries, cru-
cifixes, and religious articles, he gave all of them a souvenir medal. They
were deeply moved. After catching his breath, Father Murialdo requested
a special blessing for the St. Aloysius Oratory entrusted to him by Don
Bosco. Pius IX replied: "Looking after boys is a praiseworthy task. There
were Apostles who would have kept children from Jesus, but Our Lord
66 thought otherwise. 'Let the little children come to Me,' He said, and
this we must do. God abundantly blesses those who take care of chil-
dren. Saving oneself while saving others is most consoling; confining
one's efforts to saving only oneself is a mark of laziness."
"There is indeed a crying need for such zeal in our neighborhood," re-
marked Father Murialdo.

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"Indeed!" concurred the Pope. "Everywhere, and certainly also in
your area, where an unbridled press wreaks havoc. Regardless of
origin, publications are spread far and wide because we have no
Great Wall of China to block them. Last year, when I journeyed to
Florence and Bologna, I had to confiscate thousands of booklets
published in Turin and Milan."
Needless to say, these words were a powerful boost to Father
Murialdo. He must have made quite an impression on the Pope
because Pius IX did not forget this zealous young Turinese priest;
even years later, in 1867, he asked Don Bosco about him.
The audience was now over. All knelt for a final blessing and be-
gan to leave. The Pope lingered with Don Bosco, encouraging him
to persevere in his undertaking and to try out his constitutions.
Again he exhorted him to record in minute detail everything he
had told him of a supernatural character, and even things of mi-
nor importance if they had a bearing on his initial inspiration of
the oratories. He repeated that this would immeasurably boost
the morale of future members of his new congregation.
The next day the Pope personally signed the rescripts and had them delivered to
Don Bosco. During his last few days in Rome, Don Bosco, enlightened and en-
couraged by the words of the Vicar of Christ, analyzed the constitutions of the
Society of St. Francis de Sales, deleting and adding to bring them substantially
in line with Pius IX's suggestions.
67

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The
Catacombs of
St. Callistus
Via Appia Antica 110
Don Bosco always had a great devotion to the Holy Martyrs.
This devotion, combined with a desire to know the places of their martyrdom
and burial, in order to be able to write with greater precision and clarity their
lives, led him to scrupulously visit the Roman catacombs. The careful observa-
tion was however united a spirit of deep faith and devotion.
His attention was particularly directed towards the catacombs of St Sebastian
and S. Callistus on the Via Appia Antica, during his stay in 1858.
68
His last visits were to the Confession of St. Peter and to the cata-
combs of St. Sebastian and St. Callistus. After praying in St. Se-
bastian's Basilica and looking at two of the arrows which had
pierced the saintly tribune and the pillar to which he had been
tied, he went down into the catacombs guarding the bones of
thousands upon thousands of martyrs. Here St. Philip Neri used to
spend nights in vigilant prayer. Don Bosco next visited the cata-
combs of St. Callistus, where he was probably met by Giovanni
Battista De Rossi, their discoverer, to whom he had already been
introduced by Archbishop San Marzano.
Visiting the catacombs is an unforgettable, moving experience.
Don Bosco was absorbed in holy thoughts as he walked through
the narrow underground corridors where the early Christians at-
tended Mass, prayed and sang, received Holy Communion, listened
to bishops and popes, and drew strength to face martyrdom. It is

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impossible to view impassively the niches where the bleeding or
burnt bodies of so many heroes of our Faith were laid to rest or
to look unemotionally at the tombs of St. Cecilia and of fourteen
popes who gave their lives in witness to what they taught. Don
Bosco noticed the many ancient frescoes with their symbols of
Christ and the Eucharist, the charming portrayals of Mary's be-
trothal to Joseph, Her assumption into heaven, or other represen-
tations of the Blessed Virgin holding the Child Jesus in Her arms
or on Her knee. He was enthralled by the modesty
shining through these effigies—resplendent exam-
ples of early Christian art, which had been able to
capture the incomparable beauty of the soul and
the supreme ideal of moral perfection that must
be attributed to the Blessed Virgin. He also took
notice of many engravings of saints and martyrs.
Map
Don Bosco had entered the catacombs at eight in
the morning. When he came out it was six in the
evening. The only break had been a light lunch with
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the religious who were custodians of the catacombs (BM V, 602-
603).
Sometimes fate plays strange tricks, and today this Sacred Cemetery is carefully
guarded by the sons of Don Bosco, and the former Trappist monastery (where
the Saint stopped for lunch) is a training house for young Salesians.
The old main part, dating back to the time of Don Bosco's visit, is still recog-
nisable.
A statue of the saint, in front of the entrance to the 'San Tarcisio' Institute,
reminds us that Don Bosco, who was once only a visitor, is now at home here.
A visit to these catacombs, described by Pope John XXIII as “the most august
and most famous in Rome” is highly recommended.
71

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Santa Maria
sopra
Minerva
Piazza della Minerva 42
This church, founded in the 7th century over the remains of a temple of Miner-
va Chalkidiki and rebuilt in Gothic forms around 1280, was around 1280, was
much loved by Don Bosco. In fact, he often went there to celebrate the Divine
Sacrifice and to preach. Another reason for the frequent the assiduity of the
saint's visits to this church is that in the palace adjacent to it lived Cardinal
Gaude, a Piedmontese and his friend.
It was this temple that was one of the first places Don Bosco visited in Rome,
on 23 February 1858.
Around nine o'clock he and Rua went to the Church of Santa Ma-
ria sopra Minerva, so called because it is built on the ruins of a
temple dedicated to that goddess. They were cordially welcomed
at the adjacent monastery by [Francis] Cardinal Gaude who was
expecting them. The cardinal was on excellent terms with Don
Bosco, and he conversed with him privately for some ninety
minutes. Delighted with a chance to speak his native Piedmontese
dialect, he questioned Don Bosco on the oratories
and sounded him out on more important matters,
72
such as the state of the Church in Piedmont. He
also listened favorably to everything Don Bosco
told him of the proposed constitutions he had
brought along. The cardinal's words and demeanor
showed that his high position had in no way al-
tered his humility or lessened his love for his na-
tive Piedmont and old friends. Both during this visit
Map

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and in all his dealings with the cardinal, Don Bosco was greatly
helped by Father Marchi, a Dominican, who had the deepest re-
gard for him and offered to help him in every way during his stay
in Rome.
More than once Don Bosco recollected himself in prayer in the Church of S.
Maria sopra Minerva, at particularly important moments, as he did on 9 March
1858, before travelling to the Vaticano to be received for the first time by
Pius IX.
On March 9 1858—the day scheduled for his papal audience—
Don Bosco said Mass in the Church of Santa Maria sopra Miner-
va, one of the most beautiful and magnificent churches in Rome.
Beneath its main altar [in a glass coffin] lies the body of St.
Catherine of Siena. After Mass, Don Bosco called on [Francis]
Cardinal Gaude whom he had to consult before seeing the Pope.
73
He was given immediate attention and received the desired advice
and information; then he rushed home and hastened to draft the
petitions he intended to present to the Holy Father.

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Santa Maria
in Cosmedin
Piazza Bocca della Verità 18
Don Bosco also came often to the ancient church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin.
The church was erected in the 6th century on top of a large porticoed hall from
the Flavian period, of which several columns remain incorporated into the build-
ing, which stood near a grandiose altar and two temples consecrated to Hercu-
les Invictus and to Ceres.
The Church, enlarged by Hadrian I in the 8th century, was given to the Greeks
who, having fled the persecutions of the Iconoclasts of the East, had settled in
the neighbourhoods near the Tiber; from them it took the name of Schola Grae-
ca and S. Maria in Cosmedin (the Greek word for 'ornament').
Attached to the Church is the Monastery of the Sisters of Charity, saved by
Don Bosco's intervention from forfeiture. The same morning of 6 March, after
visiting the Hospice of St Michael in Ripa, and receiving some work done by the
youngsters as a gift, Don Bosco crossed the Tiber at the ponte rotto and had to
take refuge in the vestibule of the Church of S. Maria in Cosmedin (its facade
looking over the Bocca della Verità), to shelter from a violent downpour that
75 had surprised them. The vestibule was already occupied by some cattlemen, with
whom, inevitably, Don Bosco chatted.
While waiting out the violent storm, they noticed in the square in
front of them, called Bocca della Verità [mouth of truth], several
yokes of oxen resting in the mud, heedless of the wind and rain.
The men in charge of them had also taken refuge in the same
place, and with enviable zest they were eating their lunch of rye

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or cornbread and a chunk of raw cod which they tore off piece by
piece, washing it all down with water.
Attracted by their simple, good-natured ways, Don Bosco went up
to them and said: "You're hungry, I see."
"Very!" one of them answered.
"Is bread and fish enough to keep you going?"
"Yes, and we're thankful to God for it. We're poor and can't expect
more."
"Why don't you put your oxen into the stable?"
"We have no stables."
"Do you always leave them out in the weather day and night, just
like that?"
"Always."
"Even when you're home in your own villages?"
"Yes, because we have very few stables. Rain or shine, day or
night, we leave them out."
"Do you also keep cows and young calves outside?"
"Right. We think that if an animal has started off in a stable, it
should stay in a stable, but if it has been brought up outdoors,
outdoors it should remain."
"Do you live far from here?"
"Forty miles."
"Can you go to church on Sundays and holy days?"
"Sure! We have our own little church. A priest
comes, says Mass, gives a sermon, and teaches
catechism. All the people try their best to come,
even those who live far away."
"Do you sometimes go to confession?"
Map
"Certainly! Do you mean that there are Christians
who neglect this sacred duty? Now it's the jubilee
year, and we'll do our best to gain the indulgences."
76
Such talk revealed the innate goodness of these peasants who,
though poor, were satisfied with their scanty lot and happy with
their station in life as long as they could perform their religious
duties as good Christians and attend to their humble calling.
While they were talking, Don Bosco thought of the great good
that regular missions could do in the plains around Rome. This
thought lingered in his mind the rest of his life.

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In this story, the memory of the little Becchi's cowherd and his
interest in the condition of animals resurfaces, but even more so
the priest who recommends good behaviour and Christian religious
practices.
The famous 'mouth of truth' is preserved in the vestibule of the
church – a Roman mask so called because of the legend, which
says that, in order to prove the truth of a person, all one has to
do is stick one’s hand into the 'mouth' of truth! For liars, it would
be cut off.
77
Stories about Don Bosco's goodness were being rapidly reported
and spread by those who had met him during those few days. Fa-
ther Rua declares that many Romans already knew that in Turin in
1849 Don Bosco had brought a boy back to life so that he could
make his confession. In fact, they described the episode to him.
From what they said, it was obvious that they were very well in-

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formed. Most probably they themselves had heard it from one of
the several Piedmontese prelates, diocesan priests, and Jesuit Fa-
thers who were in Rome and knew Don Bosco well. His greatest
admirer was Count De Maistre who never ceased telling people
about Don Bosco, whether he found himself in aristocratic homes
or the palaces of cardinals. He was so devout and so highly-
respected that everybody fully believed him.
79

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Santa Maria
del Popolo
Piazza del Popolo 12
This church, like Trinità dei Monti, is one of the most famous in the city. It
arose from a small chapel built by Paschal II (1099) at the expense of the Ro-
man people (hence the name), over the tombs of the Domitians, perhaps in
thanksgiving for the conquest of Jerusalem (which took place in July of the
same same year, at the end of the First Crusade).
It was restored, enlarged and retouched several times by artists such as Bra-
mante and Bernini.
Roman nobles often came here (many of whom had relatives buried in the same
Church). It is therefore normal that Don Bosco often went there to celebrate
Mass, to meet Roman nobles, and to collect substantial offerings for his many
works.
80
He had set aside the next day, Sunday, March 7, for a visit to the
magnificent Church of Santa Maria del Popolo where he was to
say Mass and give Communion to several distinguished persons.
Above the main altar is a miraculous painting of Our Lady, at-
tributed to St. Luke. Next to the church there is an Augustinian
monastery. At 9 o'clock, Philip Foccardi, a very devout man who
was a manufacturer of rosary beads and the owner of a religious
articles store, came to pick up Don Bosco in his own carriage.
After Mass and thanksgiving, Don Bosco toured Villa Borghese
and the magnificent Piazza del Popolo, as well as the two church-
es flanking both sides of the start of Via del Corso --Santa Maria
dei Miracoli and Santa Maria di Monte Santo. Then he was driven
to the mansion of Princess Potocka, a descendant of the

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Sobieskis, former kings of Poland. He stayed for
lunch and thoroughly enjoyed the edifying and
lively conversation of the lady guests of princess.
(MB V, 553).
A humorous and significant episode during his first stay in
Rome, in 1858, in Piazza del Popolo deserves our atten-
Map
tion. It is something (which occurred perhaps the day
before his return to Turin: 14 April 1858): which shows us
Don Bosco’s great pedagogical ability and his ease in approaching boys and
making friends of them.
Among the cardinals he visited on his farewell tour was Cardinal
Tosti who, on a previous occasion, had asked him to speak to the
81
boys of St. Michael's Hospice. The cardinal was gratified by Don
Bosco's parting visit, and since it was time for his daily ride, he
asked Don Bosco to join him. On the way, they began to talk of
the best educational system for boys. Don Bosco was more than
ever convinced that the pupils in that hospice kept aloof from
their superiors and actually feared them—a very regrettable situa-
tion since the superiors were priests. Their discussion went more
or less as follows:

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"Your Eminence, it is impossible to form boys well if they have no
trust in their superiors."
"How is one to win this trust?" the cardinal asked.
"By trying to attract them and by eliminating whatever alienates
them."
"How can we attract them to us?"
"By going to them first, by trying to adapt to their tastes, by be-
coming like them. Would you like a demonstration? Tell me: where
are we likely to find a large crowd of boys?"
"In Piazza Termini, or Piazza del Popolo," the cardinal answered.
"Good; then let's go to Piazza del Popolo."
Once there, Don Bosco alighted from the carriage while the cardi-
nal stayed to watch. Spotting a group of boys playing, Don Bosco
went up to them, only to see them take to their heels. He called
them back in a kindly voice. After a little hesitation, they came up
to him. Don Bosco gave them some small things and asked them
about their families and their game. He told them to go on with it
while he watched or even joined in. Other boys who had been
observing this at a distance came running over in great numbers
from all sides. Don Bosco greeted them affectionately, and for
them too he had a good word and some little gift. He asked them
if they were good, if they said their prayers, and if they went to
confession. When he turned to leave, they followed him and would
only let him go when he got into the carriage again. The cardinal
was amazed.
"Did you see?" Don Bosco asked him. "You were right!" he ex-
claimed.
However, this demonstration did not seem to alter his belief that
the system then in force at St. Michael's Hospice was necessary.
The cardinal was the authoritarian type; he must have been firmly
convinced that confidence and respect could not coexist. As a
matter of fact, Pius IX, acting on Don Bosco's impressions of St.
82
Michael's Hospice, had summoned several of its officers. Their
reports further convinced him that some reform was called for in
order to remedy at least the more serious troubles, but Cardinal
Tosti, despite his loving and zealous management of that hospice,
had been like a stone wall and nothing could be done. (MB V,
600-601).

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St Michael’s
Hospice
at Ripa
Piazza di Porta Portese
Lungotevere Ripa
The Roman Institute of St Michael’s (formerly the Hospice), a pious institution
founded in the 16th century with the aim of bring together and instructing poor
young people in trades and to house older orphaned girls. It was housed in a
building with a 334-metre front. The construction of the palace saw Carlo Fon-
tana, then Fuga and Forti, engaged for over a century.
The building first housed the hospice, to which a house of correction for juve-
niles was annexed, then the women's prison and the customs barracks.
It includes the small church of the Madonna del buon viaggio (Our Lady of the
Good Journey) and the large Greek cross church of St Michael (the work of
Fontana).
The Institute now has new premises in Tor Marangia, and the former building
houses numerous offices of the Ministry of Culture and is home to numerous
exhibitions.
86
At first Don Bosco went there only to visit this famous institution, but later
returned several times, at the Pope's request. Pius IX in fact wanted to get to
know from Don Bosco about the pedagogical system practised in the Hospice.
Later the Pius IX himself insisted that Don Bosco should take over, but the op-
position of those who were in charge advised Don Bosco to desist from this
enterprise.
Here is the account of Don Bosco's first visit to this Work, on 29 February
1858.

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In the afternoon Don Bosco decided to go with Count Rudolf De
Maistre to St. Michael's Hospice across the Tiber in order to pay
his respects to Antonio Cardinal Tosti, its president. The cardinal
had been in Turin as chargé d'affairs to the Piedmontese govern-
ment from 1822 to 1829, winning the affectionate regard of the
intelligentsia and the cream of the nobility.
After crossing the river, Don Bosco and the count visited the
Church of San Bartolomeo on the tiny island in the Tiber. The
bones of this apostle are preserved under the main altar. They
also visited the Church of Santa Cecilia which had been erected
on the spot where her house stood, and they venerated her still
uncorrupted body. Finally, they arrived at St. Michael's Hospice.
The main building is over 1,100 feet long, 260 feet wide, and 75
feet high; its perimeter is slightly over half a mile. It houses more
than 800 persons, mostly boys. The cardinal warmly welcomed
Don Bosco and Count Rudolf and entertained them by describing
his experiences during the period of the Roman Republic when he
had to find lodging elsewhere for fear of assassination. As they
were about to leave, he invited them to return for a tour of the
hospice at their convenience, asking them to let him know the day
and the hour.
Don Bosco gladly accepted the cardinal’s invitation, and the following week
when things were quieter, he visited the hospice.
On the morning of March 6 he went with Rua and the whole De
Maistre family to see the imposing St. Michael's Hospice. Cardinal
Tosti had a generous lunch ready for them, but neither Don Bosco
nor his friends ate, since they had already had a light meal before
leaving and wanted to observe the Lenten fast.
Map
The cardinal and one of the directors graciously
took them through each boor and hall where boys
87
were being taught trades and crafts. The hospice
had shops for shoemakers, tailors, blacksmiths,
carpenters, dyers, hatters, saddlers, and cabinet-
makers. There were also a printshop and a book-
binding shop that manufactured all the textbooks
for the schools of the Papal States. This was a

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88
monopoly that Pius IX had granted to the hospice as a source of
income. These two shops employed many boys.
The greater number of boys were taught by skilled teachers how
to make carpets and tapestries in the Gobelin tradition, as well as
woodcarving, painting, sculpture, and etching.
Don Bosco visited each shop. Count De Maistre and other Roman
noblemen and priests had already briefed him on the hospice and
its organization. They mostly lamented a considerable deviation
from its original purpose. Instead of taking in only poor boys, it
now also admitted boys of wealthy families and relatives of gov-
ernment employees and important people; thus they were enjoying
what should have gone to the poor. Unavoidably this led to favor-
itism and envy.
The daily fare was rich in meat and wine, and level-headed people
remarked that most pupils could not afford such lavish fare once
they left the hospice. The trades—which were supposed to support
most of the boys—were neglected as commonplace, and prefer-
ence was given to crafts, especially carpet and tapestry weaving.
Some of these art works adorned many a princely home and
brought renown to the hospice. Another complaint concerned the
repressive system in force there with its antiquated corporal pun-
ishments which were humiliating even though not very severe.
That very morning Don Bosco's friends had asked him at least to
try to end such abuses by alerting Cardinal Tosti, its president, of
what was being said in Rome against some hospice officials, but
Don Bosco preferred not to become involved in matters of this
sort.
Nevertheless, he took in everything: boys, craftsmasters, teachers,
and assistants. He examined the boys' workmanship and tried to
ascertain the prevalent spirit by questioning several boys at ran-
dom with that kindly discretion that was his alone. He also made
mental notes of more important things; he took note of shiny
walls and floors, the healthy flush of the boys' faces, the constant
supervision, the diligent teaching of catechism, and the regular
schedule for the reception of the sacraments. He also found out
that all the boys received a suitable and adequate academic edu-

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90
cation. All in all, he decided that despite the more or less serious
flaws that were unavoidable in any human undertaking, a great
amount of good was being done for the boys of the working class,
though not as much as could have been done. For example, he
noticed many boys became ill at ease and visibly apprehensive
when their superiors showed up or when they had to report to
them. Don Bosco was disturbed at this attitude because these
boys were naturally open-hearted and affectionate. He wondered
how could he give an object lesson to the superiors of the house
about the value of his own system of education.
An opportunity soon presented itself. As he was going through the
vast establishment with the cardinal and some superiors, they
heard a boy whistling and singing. He came bouncing down the
stairs, and suddenly at a bend in the staircase he found himself
face to face with the cardinal, his shop director, and Don Bosco.
The song died abruptly on his lips, and he stopped, head down, his
cap gripped tightly in his hand.
"Is this the way to act after so many warnings and instructions?"
the director asked. "How ill-mannered can you be? Go to your
shop at once and wait for your punishment." Then, turning to Don
Bosco, he added: "Please, don't mind."
"Mind what?" asked Don Bosco after the boy had gone away. "Did
the boy do anything wrong?"
"Don't you think that such loutish whistling was uncivil?" "But it
was not a deliberate infraction. You know very well what St. Philip
Neri used to tell the boys of his oratories: 'Keep still if you can,
but if you can't, shout and jump all you want, as long as you do
not commit sin!' I expect silence at certain hours of the day too,
but I ignore minor, thoughtless slips. Besides, I let my boys shout
and sing in the playground and on the stairways. All I ask is that
they do not tear the place down. A little noise is a lot better than
an angry, sullen silence. But now what bothers me is that the
poor lad is worrying about what's going to happen to him. He may
even be resentful. Don't you think we ought to go and cheer him
up?"

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The director courteously agreed. In the shop Don Bosco called the
boy over to him; bitter and dejected he shuffled over. "Come here,
my friend," Don Bosco said to him. "I want to tell you something.
Don't be afraid. Your superior has kindly given me permission to
talk to you."
The boy approached, and Don Bosco continued: "Cheer up! Every-
thing is all right, provided that you be a good boy from now on
and we remain friends. Take this medal and say a Hail Mary for
me."
Deeply touched, the boy kissed his hand and said: "I'll always wear
it as a remembrance from you."
His companions, who had already gotten word of what had hap-
pened, smiled and greeted Don Bosco as he walked through the
huge shop, while the director, admiring Don Bosco's winning ways,
resolved never again to make so much fuss over such trivial of-
fenses. Count De Maistre narrated this episode on several occa-
sions. After visiting the entire institute, the cardinal, Don Bosco,
and their party stepped out onto the terrace that surmounted the
entire building. The Tiber flows quite close to the southern wall of
the building. Several boats were moored at this spot which could
well be called the port of call of small freighters plying the river
between Rome and Ostia.
While taking a bird's-eye view of the whole vast edifice, Don
Bosco was quite happy that so many boys were being so well pre-
pared for life. We surmise that he then conceived the holy desire
and prayed to God that his boys in Turin might eventually total
the same number. A few years later, that wish was fulfilled.
It was 12:30 when they came down from the terrace. Since the
cardinal was quite tired and the boys had gone to lunch, the
count, Don Bosco, and Rua took their leave.
91
This was followed by a specific invitation from the Pope (who in
the meantime had spoken to Don Bosco) to the Cardinal to
change something in the running of the Hospice. Tosti, however,
opposed any reform, was like a bronze wall and nothing could be
done about it, although he directed this admirable institution with

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love and zeal. The cardinal was authoritarian, for him it must
have been an axiom that confidence makes one lose reverence!
Given the situation, having visited the hospice again in 1867, Don
Bosco foresaw its closure.
Pius IX entrusted other confidential roles to Don Bosco. In 1858, for instance,
he asked Don Bosco to visit St Michael's Hospice, an imposing institution across
the Tiber, which housed nearly twelve hundred residents and enjoyed a reputa-
tion in Rome as an institute for poor young people.
Supposedly it was a poor boys' home, and Pius IX had it very
much at heart because he himself had been chosen its president
in 1825 by Pope Leo XII and had held that office for twenty
months, eliminating abuses, dismissing dishonest employees, bal-
ancing the budget, clearing up his predecessor's debts, raising
school standards, and bringing the whole institution to a flourish-
92
ing state. Knowing its old troubles first-hand and anxious to fore-
stall their comeback, he feared that the board of directors might
not tell him the true state of affairs because of maladministra-
tion, connivance or timidity. Hence his request to Don Bosco, who
had already been briefed by the Duchess of Sora and other noble
ladies on how things stood at St. Michael's. Don Bosco reluctantly
accepted this task, the more so because he could foresee how
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Tactfully, as ever, he questioned various residents of the hospice
and found that hardly any of the boys could qualify as destitute.
As for everything else, nothing or very little had changed since his
first visit [in 1858].
He was hesitant to tell the Pope the whole truth, but the latter,
noticing his indecision, clearly stated, "I want you to tell me all.
sent you there for no other reason." Don Bosco then complied. He
also voiced his belief that with its ample revenues the hospice
could care for many, many more boys. "Holy Father," he conclud-
ed, "I fear that St. Michael's will be lost." He meant that it would
fall into lay hands. This forecast impressed the Pope. In 1871 he
himself recalled it to Don Bosco as we shall see.
Don Bosco's report drew a storm upon him. The hospice's admin-
istrators, summoned by the Pope and taken to task, were quick to
connect his reprimands to Don Bosco's visit. Determined to get
even with him, yet unable to impugn his personal integrity, they
decided to find some pretext in some of the hundred popular
booklets he had published…
On June 28, eve of the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, Don Bosco
went to the Vatican, where he was scheduled for a private audi-
ence with the Holy Father. This was an open sign of the latter's
benevolence and special interest, considering the enormous de-
mands on his time by frequent public and private audiences for
hosts of pilgrims.
As Don Bosco was ushered into the papal chamber, Pius IX amia-
bly looked at him and exclaimed, "Don Bosco, we have lost St.
Michael's Hospice."
This vast charitable institute on the banks of the Tiber was par-
ticularly dear to the Pope because, as its director and administra-
tor in former years, he had infused new life into the place, paid
93
off its debts and raised the standards of the vocational depart-
ment. Among other things, to encourage the boys in their work,
he had generously allowed them a share of the profits—an innova-
tion which Don Bosco later introduced at the Oratory. Thus, at
graduation every pupil received a tidy sum of money.

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In referring to St. Michael's Hospice the Pope wanted to remind
Don Bosco not only of his efforts to revitalize it, but also of the re-
sults of his inspection.
94

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Hospicio
Tata Giovanni
Hospice
Via Arenula
This Institute had similar aims to St Michael's, and it too was slowly decaying.
Don Bosco visited it and was quite happy with it, but not to the point of taking
over, as Pius IX (who as a simple priest had been its Director) wanted.
The glorious Institute, from its ancient headquarters in Via S. Anna de' Fa-
legnami (Via Arenula was opened in 1880 to connect Largo di Torre Argentina
with the Garibaldi Bridge, thus destroying part of Via delle Zoccolette and the
ancient churches of S.Maria de' Calderari, S.Bartolomeo dei Vaccinari, S.Anna
dei Falegnami and Ss.Vincenzo ed Anastasio dei Cuochi, so called because it
was the headquarters of Ss. Annunziata dei Cuochi e dei Pasticceri [cooks and
confectioners]) moved to the new one in Via di Porta Arenula at the beginning
of the century. Today it has been demolished, while the new house is a School.
Don Bosco’s first visit to this Work dates back to 27 February 1858. He had
resolved to visit some charitable institutions for the young, where he hoped to
obtain enlightenment and and comfort to zealously strive
for the spiritual and material benefit of the Oratory.
He went first to the hospice of "Tata Giovanni" in
Via Sant'Anna dei Falegnami. He was truly pleased
95
by its history, purpose, and management.
Map
The hospice dates back to the end of the 18th
century when a poor bricklayer named Giovanni
Burgi, moved to pity by the great number of or-

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96
phaned boys roaming the streets, started to take in a few in a
small rented house. God blessed his efforts, for as the number of
boys increased, more room was provided. Gratefully and lovingly,
the boys began to call their benefactor "Tata," which in the Ro-
man dialect means "Father"—hence the name "Tata Giovanni" by
which the hospice is still known. Burgi had little money but a big
heart, and he was not ashamed to beg for his adopted sons. Pope
Pius VI, during whose pontificate [1775-1799] this home was
founded, gave him a house and continued to help him, and his
successors followed his example.
The superior has the title of director, and he is assisted by a vicar
of his own choosing with the right of succession. The age-limit for
admission is from nine to fourteen. The boys remain there until
the age of twenty. The older and more dependable boys monitor
the dormitories, while the more educated teach elementary read-
ing, writing, and arithmetic to the younger ones. A few clerics and
laymen give lessons in the evening. Most boys learn a craft of
their own choosing. Since there are no workshops on the premises,
they learn their trade in town, just as the custom was in our Ora-
tory during its early years. A few are given a liberal arts educa-
tion, but only after unquestionable and long-standing proof of
excellent moral character and keen intelligence. The hospice sub-
sists on a monthly grant of one hundred and fifty lire from Pius IX,
donations, and part of the boy's earnings: fifteen baiocchi went
for their support while the balance was deposited to their ac-
counts.
The hospice, a papal institution, is under the patronage of the
Blessed Virgin of the Assumption and of St. Francis de Sales. The
hours for rising and retiring, the system observed in the dormito-
ries and in the supervision of the boys, the custom of naming
each dormitory after a patron saint—in a word, the whole setup—
reminds us of our own Oratory in Turin. Don Bosco was delighted
to learn that in Turin, unknowingly, he had duplicated Tata Gio-
vanni's work. All charitable undertakings more or less resemble
one another because ultimately God is their unchangeable prime
mover and the Church is their unalterable inspirer.
As a priest, Pius IX himself had directed the hospice for seven
years and had always regarded it in a personal way. At the time
of Don Bosco's visit, his room could still be seen. That year

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[1858] the boys numbered about one hundred and fifty. (MB V,
541-542)
Giovanni Borgia
The Tata Giovanni Hospice was born when Giovanni Borgi started to host
(1784) in his own home in via de' Cartari the boys he saw sleeping abandoned
on the benches and on the steps of the Pantheon on their way back from the
evening procession (in which he used to participate) organised by the Oratorio
del Caravita; as well as providing them with board and lodging (with the help of
his sister Domenica), he began to send them to work with his craftsmen friends
so that they could learn a trade that could then sustain them in life. With the
help of lay volunteers and priests, he also tried to provide them with a school
and religious education.
Since he treated these boys like children, they affectionately called him Tata,
which in Roman dialect meant 'father'; hence his nickname and the name taken
by the hospice. At the same time, because he had a rough manner and tried to
help as many children as possible, some of them even said: “run away, run
away, here comes Tata Giovanni!”
With time, the work grew and attracted the interest of various personalities
who supported it with donations and income; later, Pope Pius VI bought the
Ruggia palace in Via Giulia for the
hospice (and meanwhile the insti-
tute was rented out, eventually ac-
commodating up to 40 orphans).
With the advent of the Roman Re-
public (and the death of Tata Gio-
vanni in 1798) the activity of the
hospice was in danger of ceasing;
despite various tribulations it con-
97 tinued to operate (combined with
other minor institutes, including
the one run by Venerable Fra' Boni-
facio da Sezze) thanks to the work
of lawyer Belisario Cristaldi, who
moved the hospice to the Church of
S. Nico da Tolentino; later, during
the Napoleonic period, the institute

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was based at S. Silvestro al Quirinale, Borgo S. Agata ai Monti and the Palazzo
Ravenna on the Esquiline.
In 1816, when Pius VII returned to Rome, the Tata Giovanni Hospice finally
found a permanent home at the Church of S. Anna dei Falegnami under the
leadership of Canon Storace. During this period, the activity of the hospice grew
(hosting up to 120 boys) and became institutionalised, with the adoption of
rules and regulations.
Many lay people and young clerics of the time collaborated in the work of the
hospice, which had maintained the founder's original spirit. Among these were
the future Pope and Blessed Pius IX, as well as Monsignor Morichini, Monsignor
Vespignani and several others.
In 1869, the Tata Giovanni hospice was one of the most significant sites of the
events for the fiftieth anniversary of the priestly ordination of Pius IX; on 12
April 1869 the Pope returned to the Hospice (in memory of the first Mass
celebrated here on 11 April 1819), after having personally distributed Com-
munion to the orphans from Tata Giovanni the previous day in St Peter's.
Among the former students of Tata Giovanni are the Servant of God Federico
Cionchi and Columbanus Longoria, a monk; St John Bosco visited the Hospice
Tata Giovanni Hospice on one of his trips to Rome, and saw many similarities
there with what he had founded in Turin.
In 1887 the hospice – together with the church of S. Anna dei Falegnami –
was demolished for the opening of of Via Arenula and moved to Piazza del Bis-
cione in the Palazzo Righetti (formerly Orsini and Pio di Savoia), where it re-
mained until 1926; from there it moved to its current headquarters in Viale di
Porta Ardeatina.
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Vigna Pia
agricultural
estate
Via Filippo Tajani
A third educational institute dear to Pius IX was the agricultural estate known as
Vigna Pia. That is why, in 1867, he suggested that Don Bosco turn it into a
Salesian Home.
The Institute was situated (at that time) in the open countryside, not far from
the Tiber. The unfortunate location of the work was one of the reasons that left
Don Bosco hesitant about the decision to take it over (technically the structure
was very poor but above all, the proximity of the river increased the possibility
of infection and disease).
However, what most prevented him from settling in Vigna Pia was the opposi-
tion of the Commission for Pious Works in Rome, reluctant to entrust a Roman
work to a foreigner from Piedmont. Don Bosco even went so far as to draft a
proposal for the administration of Vigna Pia, but had to give up the undertaking.
100
Don Bosco also acquainted the Holy Father with an offer of build-
ings and money for a Salesian house in Rome. Pius IX, who would
have liked such a foundation, mentioned Vigna Pia, a sort of
farmstead and reform school for about one hundred abandoned
youngsters that he himself had founded. He had spoken about it
to Don Bosco in 1858. It was managed by French religious who
would willingly have withdrawn. Pius IX wished the Salesians to
take it over. Duke Salviati, who heartily agreed, took Don Bosco to
visit it. The plan fell through, however, after several months of
discussions because the Holy See's agencies charged with welfare

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institutions would not give up even an iota of their control over
them.
We have a manuscript that was the basis of those negotiations.
[Note: the English translation of the BM does not contain this, so
the reference is to the Italian edition MB VIII, 606]
PROPOSAL REGARDING THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE ESTAB-
LISHMENT KNOWN AS VIGNA PIA.
That Fr John Bosco take on the administration of the Vigna Pia
establishment proposing the following:
1. He will provide a sufficient number of people for the religious,
moral, artistic and scientific education, in proportion to the age,
need and condition of the young inmates.
2. The youngsters will be employed in agriculture, in the most
vital trades of society such as shoemaking, carpentry, tailoring,
ironmongery and also in study, should it be seen fit. All of them,
moreover, will have an evening school in which, among other
things, there will be musical instruction.
The local director is the arbiter of discipline, but he may neither
receive nor send away any pupil from the establishment without
the consent of the Administration.
4. The Director will provide food, clothing, medicine, art, hair-
dressing, laundry, mending and anything else that may be needed
for the young people.
5. The cultivation of the land will be dealt
with separately as to whether it is to be
done on behalf of the Administration or on
behalf of the Director.
6. The Administration gives the Director
the faculty to accept young people on his
own account and assign them to work or
study as he sees fit, provided that the ca-
pacity of the premises allows this.
Map
101

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102
7. The Administration will pay the Director for each individual at
the rate of one franc per day if they do not exceed one hundred
in number; for those exceeding this number, they will be paid for
each 90 cents.
The Director, teachers, assistants, service persons, are considered
as pupils as regards payment by the Administration, i.e. they will
all get one franc each.
8. With this sum, the Administration aims to be exempt from all
expenses other than what will be deemed necessary for the con-
servation or extension of buildings in the establishment.
9. The Administration will make a loan of three thousand scudi to
the Director for initial expenses and for the anticipation of the
most necessary provisions.

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10. This sum will begin to be paid off after one year, by the de-
duction of three francs per month from what is paid for each
pupil.
11. This loan will be guaranteed by means to be agreed upon.
12. The contract will last for a five-year period and in the event
that either party for reasonable reasons wishes to withdraw from
it, the other party must forewarn the other two years in advance.
Vigna Pia
The Vigna Pia institute is originally an agricultural estate and an
orphanage, today a school and religious community centre. The
estate was formed in 1850 at the behest of Pius IX, as an
'agricultural charity institute' for orphans of working age entrust-
ed to the Congregation of the Holy Family of Bergamo. The main
boarding school building has a quadrangular shape with a hollow
interior and extends into the Leo XIII Pavilion, built in 1889. In
1932 the estate became a rural parish. After the post-war peri-
od, the agricultural part disappeared, and in 1978 the parish title
was transferred to the new church of the Holy Family and the
Institute became a public school connected with the nearby Sa-
cred Heart, continuing to house the Holy Family General Admin-
istration.
The agricultural estate
In 1850 and 1851 the generous benefactors Prince Torlonia, Princess Wolkon-
ski and the religious order of the Minims established a single estate covering
22 hectares, called the Vigna Pia Agricultural Charity Institute. The name ‘Pia’
originates from the reigning pope, Pius IX, promoter and protector of the initia-
tive.
The settlement was structured according to the ‘colonia’ scheme, i.e. an agri-
cultural estate on vast cultivated land arranged around a main blacksmith's
shop, which functions as an administrative centre.
The population was made up of 'orphans and other more unfortunate young
workers', i.e. between 7 and 21. After literacy, they received theoretical training
in agronomy and surveying, followed by apprenticeships in horticulture, cereal
cultivation and viticulture, and finally placement in service in a rural family. The
103

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care of souls was entrusted to the nearby parish of Casaletto, while material
care was entrusted to the Holy Family of Bergamo, a religious congregation
whose mission was the rural apostolate.
The residence
The main building, called the boarding school, is quadrangular in shape, with a
hollow interior area onto which the dormitory balconies face. A similar similar
architectural form is found, in addition to boarding schools, in many works ar-
chitectural works intended for the 'community life of equals', such as prisons!
The boarding residence main façade faces not the estate, but the Magliana and
Tiber valley, and is surmounted by the papal coat of arms between two cornu-
copias filled with wheat.
Other buildings
The Boarding residence extends into a pavilion of lesser height, a gift from Pope
Leo XIII in 1889. Shortly after its inauguration on 23 April 1891, both the
Pavilion and the Residence were seriously damaged by the accidental explosion
of the nearby Forte Portuense powder magazine. The estate was originally com-
pleted with rural farmhouses and a monumental gate on the Via Portuense,
with a small country chapel alongside: both have now disappeared.
104

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Church of the
Holy Shroud
Via del Sudario
With hopes of opening a Salesian house in Vigna Pia having vanished, in 1869,
Don Bosco fixed his attention on the Church of the Holy Shroud, which he had
already visited in 1867.
This is located a few steps away from Piazza Navona.
Built in 1604 by Carlo Castellamonte and restored in 1867 by C. Rainaldi, it
stands with its plaster facade incorporated into the adjoining houses. It was the
church of the Piedmontese, Niçois and Savoyards. Perhaps for this very reason it
attracted Don Bosco’s attention as early as 1867.
The Church belonged to the Italian State (after the termination of the 'Holy
Shroud Sodality'), and Don Bosco immediately undertook negotiations in Flor-
ence to have custody of it, also using the adjoining premises.
The negotiations with Cav. Canton lasted a long time, and he "introduced Don
Bosco to some employees, his friends and good Catholics, who in time and place
could have helped him with the Government".
Don Bosco presented the idea to the Holy Father, already foreseeing that "the
negotiations would not be short-lived, and so they lent themselves to keeping
him in direct communication with the Minister. Pius IX approved.
105
The saint had seen things well; these negotiations lasted a very long time (about
8 years) and Don Bosco showed great 'political cunning' in their regard, as we
can see from reading Lemoyne's pages [NOTE: the details below are not includ-

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ed in the English translation of the BM, so have been translated and abbreviated
somewhat here].
The Venerable was concerned about poor Roman youth. The hope
of having a place at Vigna Pia having vanished, he began to think
about a daring plan to achieve his goal in another way. He pro-
ceeded without haste and after mature advice.
In 1867 he had visited the Church of the Holy Shroud, in which a
confraternity had been founded since 1597 by some pious sub-
jects of the Sardinian States, with the approval the Holy See, a
confraternity whose main purpose was the moral education of the
youth of that district.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the confraternity had ceded
possession and administration of the church and the fulfilment of
its duties. These rights and duties, after a number of years
(1831) had been entrusted to the Sardinian Legation residing in
Rome, since the Savoy kings had always had this confraternity
under their special protection. The church was closed in 1868,
because urgent renovations had to be carried out.
Don Bosco planned to have a house annexed to the church, which
could easily have been adapted as a hospice of charity for the
youngsters. His plan was this: to propose to the Government that
they hand over the use and administration of the Church and the
house to him, offering his cooperation in money to quickly com-
plete the planned restoration of the church so that it could reo-
pen for worship as soon as possible.
106
Perhaps Don Bosco had another reason for pressing for a Salesian
house in Rome. He foresaw the inevitable entry of the Italian
troops into the city, and wanted to take up residence with his
followers at the church of the Most Holy Shroud before this event
because, while no one would have found his position before the
Holy See worthy of criticism, the new government would naturally
have been inclined to respect those whom it recognised as its
subjects. It would not have failed to protect and defend them
from extreme parties: and a law of confiscation would not affect
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This is an assumption on our part, but given Don Bosco’s ingenui-
ty and perspicacity, it is something he would have studied from
every aspect and would have foreseen all the difficulties and con-
sequences of. So, what was the goal that the Venerable wanted
to achieve?
His aim—which he wanted his co-workers to make known to all—
was to do good to as many people as possible, to do harm to no
one, and to be allowed to help underprivileged and forsaken boys
lest they end up in jail. "As a citizen," he declared, "I respect all
civil authorities, but as a Catholic priest I am a servant of the
Pope.”
This policy, which was nothing but the prudence of the serpent
combined with the simplicity of the dove, is that which made him
so glorious before God and before men.
Therefore, he wrote about this plan to a great friend of his, Cava-
lier Carlo Canton, Director and Head of Section at the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, in Florence; and the latter replied to him, approv-
ing, encouraging, and assuring him that he would inform him of
the opportune moment to start proceedings.
In the meantime, Don Bosco had a lengthy document copied from
the State archives, which served to shed light on the negotiations
that lasted several years and which he presented to the Ministry
of the Interior with the other papers relating to the affair. It was
a dispatch from the Royal Legation of the Sardinian States to the
Holy See dated 10 April 1851, containing containing long histori-
cal notes on the Church of the Holy Shroud. This originated from
a confraternity of the same name, made up of former subjects of
the Piedmontese, Niçois and Savoyards Duchies, twoards the close
of the 16th century.
For now it was only necessary to study the pro-
ject: and Don Bosco set out some preliminary
agreement details he had given consideration to
and written down in various articles.
Map
THE CHURCH AND SODALITY OF THE HOLY
SHROUD IN ROME
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1. Father Bosco, following the spirit of the Turin Institute with the
title of the Oratory of St Francis de Sales, would replace the now
ceased society or sodality of the Most Holy Shroud which, ac-
cording to its founding principles, in addition to religious practices,
also had the purpose of giving hospitality to pilgrims, visiting pris-
oners and the sick, directing children on the path to salvation and
other similar works of charity.
2. He undertakes to pay taxes of any kind, to carry out ordinary
repairs at his own expense for both the church and the outbuild-
ings; to provide for the cleanliness of the the church, provide and
repair vestments, pews, chairs, candlesticks, wax and wine and all
that is necessary for divine worship.
3. He will provide for the administration of the institute, the
church and the buildings, and for what concerns the tenants and
the maintenance of the buildings he will provide no fewer than six
persons; no fewer than two priests, one rector, the other vice-
rector, a sacristan, two clerics for the service of the sacred ser-
vices on weekdays and feast days.
4. Every day there shall be not less than two Masses, with the
obligation to hear confessions, visit the sick, and, if they have
permission, also visit the prisoners.
5. On feast days they will explain the gospel to adults and offer
catechism for abandoned children, with Benediction of the Blessed
Sacrament.
6. He shall fulfil the attached pious legacies, whether in low or
sung Masses, as well as in triduums, novenas, forty hours and for
all other solemnities that run throughout the year...
108
At that time, it seems, there was no mention of the rights of the
Royal House. Don Bosco stayed in Florence for a week, going from
one to another of the various Ministries, holding special talks with
some Ministers and with other personages of high rank. Wherever
he presented himself, he was well received, well known for his
courtesy and warmth.
Unfortunately, these plans fell through, because after 1870 the Church was

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declared a “Church of the Royal Family”, i.e. the particular Church of the House
of Savoy. Even today, in fact, it is the property of the Presidency of the Republic
(waiting to pass to the Military Ordinariate).
The Church of the Most Holy Shroud of the Piedmontese
The history of the church, which already belonged to the imperial
Abbey of Farfa before the year one thousand and was known as
S. Maria de Cellis or ‘Cella Farfoe’, tells us that it was ceded to
the French in 1478; they rebuilt it and dedicated it to St Louis IX,
King of France, hence it was called S. Maria in Cella in S. Loisio.
The French then rebuilt the magnificent church of St. Louis in
Campo Marzio in 1589, leaving it to Argentina, and the church
became the building of worship for the Piedmontese nation in
Rome. The Savoyard, Nice and Piedmontese colony, united in a
Confraternity officially recognised by Pope Clement VIII on 2 June
1597, later to become the Archconfraternity of the Most Holy
Shroud, found temporary lodging here in the church formerly dedi-
cated to St. Louis in Campo Marzio. accommodation in the church
formerly dedicated to St Louis. The same Pope donated the paint-
109

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110
ing of the Holy Shroud, which still stands on the high altar, to the
Piedmontese.
In 1604, commissioned by Charles Emmanuel I of Savoy, archi-
tect Carlo di Castellamonte designed the building (which had al-
ready been enlarged in 1660 by Carlo Rainaldi) with works and
elevations in different stages: 1667, 1682 and then ending up
with the building that we still see today.
By the bull of 19 September 1605, the archconfraternity was
granted the power by Pope Paul V to annually pardon a con-
demned prisoner. From 1685 to 1687, the façade and high altar
were constructed under Pier Francesco Garola. At the end of the
18th century, subjected to Napoleonic depredations, the church
was deconsecrated and only reopened in 1801 through the inter-
vention of Charles Emmanuel III: once again abandoned, it was
turned into a stable until 1814. It was reopened for worship after
the Restoration, refurbished by architect Giacomo Monaldi, and
was declared a Sardinian National Church.
Having come under the patronage of the royal house, it was the
home of the Chaplain Major of the Royal Palaces and the Palatine
Chaplains until 1946. Later it came under the Palatine Ordinary
of the Presidency of the Italian Republic. With the signing of the
Concordat, the institution was abolished and the church came
under the jurisdiction of the Military Ordinariate which has pro-
moted its restoration in recent years.
The interior consists of a single nave covered by a barrel vault, on
the walls of which, between pilasters and leaning columns, are
two altars within a niche entered via a rounded arch. On the op-
posite façade is the 18th-century organ, placed on a wooden
choir loft, over which the royal shield dominates. To the right is
the 17th-century altar dedicated to St Francis de Sales, built with
rich marble and with an altarpiece traditionally attributed to Car-
lo Cesi, perhaps made for the canonisation of the saint, which
took place on 19 April 1665 in this very church. Beyond the ele-
gant marble balustrade is the sanctuary decorated with frescoes
by Cesare Maccari painted between 1871 and 1873 and depict-
ing the Speech of St Anselm of Aosta to the Ecumenical Council
and the other, the meeting between St Francis de Sales and

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Blessed John Juvenal Ancina. By the same artist are the allegories
of the Virtues and the Glory of the Blessed Ludovica, Amedeo,
Umberto, Bonifacio and Margherita of the House of Savoy, on the
vault.
Two pairs of columns make up the structure of the altar. In the
centre stands the large altarpiece by Antonimo Gherardi depicting
Christ Deposed on the Shroud with Saints and Blesseds of the
House of Savoy. It was constructed in 1682. From the left we
recognise Saint Maximus, first bishop of Turin, Blessed Margaret
of Savoy, Saint Maurice, protector of the Savoy State and Blessed
Ludovica and Amadeus. On the tympanum is the stucco sculptural
group designed by Gherardi himself but made by Pietro Menti-
novese, a pupil of Bernini, with the Eternal Father in the centre
between angels and cherubs holding a copy of the Shroud made
by Princess Maria Francesca of Savoy. It is one of the many that
portrayed the relic possessed by the Savoy family since 1452 and
kept first in Chambery and then in Turin. On the left is the altar
dedicated to the Blessed (Duke) Amadeus of Savoy, who in 1465
abdicated in favour of his wife and dedicated himself to works of
mercy.
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Church of
San Giovanni
della Pigna
Piazza della Pigna
Having also failed in his attempt to have the Church of the Holy Shroud, Don
Bosco turned his attention to the Church of San Giovanni della Pigna, with its
attached premises.
This is of very ancient origin and, in 1577, was given by Gregory XIII to the
Archconfraternity of Mercy for Prisoners, who had it rebuilt by A. Torroni.
It still belonged to the Archconfraternity of Mercy for Prisoners when, at the
Audience of 8 February 1870, the Pope proposed to Don Bosco that he take it
as his own Roman headquarters.
"The plans we made last year for a house in Rome fell through,
but I am still of the same mind and I shall find a place for you.
Have you seen the Church of San Giovanni della Pigna?"
"No, Your Holiness."
"Go look at it and let me know how you like it."
112
On the same day, the saint gave the good news to Don
Rua (“Of the money I have here, I will I make a consoli-
dated sum of 100 francs a month for the future house in
Rome. The remainder I will bring home with me”) and
after a few days he went to visit the Church, to then give
his definitive answer to the Pope.
Map

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Hopes for a Salesian house in Rome again ran high. Don Bosco
informed [Angelo] Cardinal Quaglia of Pius IX's proposal concern-
ing the Church of San Giovanni. and the cardinal reacted favora-
bly. Later he went to inspect the church with an official in charge
of Vatican property. It was small but beautiful, with five marble
altars and a brand new organ. He also looked at a large house
adjacent to and owned by the church, estimating that it could
comfortably lodge fifteen people. He was also shown another
building some distance away which was much larger. It too was
owned by the same church, and its lease yielded six thousand
francs a year.
After his tour of inspection, Don Bosco was again received by the
Holy Father on February 12. "Your Holiness," he said, "I saw both
the house and the church."
"Good," the Holy Father answered. "If you like them, they are
yours."
"I am most grateful to Your Holiness, and I accept." (MB 9, 395).
Don Bosco was certain that the old project of opening a house in Rome could
finally be realised. We find this certainty in a letter to Fr Rua on 14 February
and one to Fr Bonetti on 17 February [NOTE: the English translation of the BM
does not provide the details of these letters; it merely refers to them in MB 9,
399-400].
To Rua:
"The opening of a house with a small but beautiful church can be
judged completed by next autumn. Next week I hope to be in Turin
next week; but rather than leave things half done, it is better to
delay a few days. a few days".
To Bonetti:
"For the future, when you come to Rome, you will find a house
with a beautiful little church at your disposal. The rest by voice.
Quiet and cheerful. God bless you and your labours and believe
me, Aff. in G. C. Sac. Gio. Bosco. Rome 17 - 2 - 1870.
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Thoughts, these, that he confirmed on 7 March in Turin, in the Conference to
the Salesians, held to recount the results of his stay in Rome.
Therefore, barring adverse circumstances, we shall send a few of
you to Rome in August or October of this year. Likewise, some will
be assigned to the school we are opening at Alassio, between
Oreglia and Albenga. Such is the understanding I had with the
Holy Father… Last year I built up a small fund for the house we
expected to open in Rome. Drawing from this fund and other
sums, I have taken out a monthly annuity of 100 francs on the
public debt to provide for those who will be leaving for Rome this
year.
Unfortunately, these certainties were destined to vanish in the face of other
difficulties that arose later.
The church and house of San Giovanni della Pigna did still host
the Salesians, because in 1905 these premises were made availa-
ble to the Salesian Congregation by Pius X. Until 1974, in fact,
they were used as the residence of the Procurator General of the
Salesian Salesian Society.
History
San Giovanni della Pigna
The church of San Giovanni della Pigna, originally dedicated to the
martyred saints Eleutherius and Genesius, is documented in a
papal bull of Pope Agapitus II of 955 and in one of John XII in
962.
Having fallen into ruin, in 1584 Pope Gregory XIII granted it to
the Archconfraternity of Mercy for Prisoners, who rebuilt it from
the foundations. Architect Torroni was commissioned to build the
new church; completed in 1624, it took the title Sancti Ionanis de
Pinea. It was restored again in the following century century and
in 1837 under the direction of Virginio Vespignani.
115
In 1870, Pius IX entrusted it to the Salesian Society of St. John
Bosco and, since 1985, at the behest of John Paul II, it has been
the seat of the diakonia of San Giovanni della Pigna. In 2007 the
church underwent a restoration that restored the original colour
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116
The outside
The church is dedicated to St John the Baptist; the nickname
'Pigna' refers to the large bronze pine cone discovered in the area,
which is now preserved in the Cortile della Pigna inside Vatican
City.
The façade is gabled, in a simple Baroque style. The cornice,
bearing a Latin inscription recalling the past presence inside the
church of the Archconfraternity of Mercy to prisoners, is ideally
supported by four pilasters with Ionic capitals that divide the fa-
çade into three vertical sectors: each of the two side ones hosts,
at the top, a rectangular window with no cornice or sill; in the
central sector, the portal, which has an architrave with a bas-
relief of an angel and a circular gable. The façade is crowned by a
simple tympanum surmounted by an iron cross.
Inside
The interior of the church has a single nave and is the result of
18th century renovations. Along the nave, which is covered with a
barrel vault with lunettes, there are, within large niches inter-
spersed by polychrome marble pilasters, four side altars, two on
each side. The first altar on the right is dedicated to Saint Eleu-
therius, Pope, the second on the right to Saint Genesius of Arles;
the first on the left is dedicated to the Madonna and houses the
painting Madonna and Child with Angels, from the 18th century,
a copy of a 14th-century image of the Madonna of St Luke, the
second on the right to St Teresa of Avila.
At the end of the nave is the sanctuary, bordered by a balustrade
and made up of a square bay with a painted dome vault and a
semicircular apse with a coffered decoration on the vault. In the
apse is the high altar in polychrome marble that has the altar-
piece of St John the Baptist, from the early 17th century, by Bal-
dassarre Croce, between two pairs of Corinthian columns, and
higher up, the Pietà by Luigi Garzi, added later.

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Sacred Heart
Basilica and
Hospice
Via Marsala, 38-42
FROM THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS (BM XIV, Chap 24)
All founders of religious orders, both of men and of women, always sought to
set up their residence in Rome. A divine urge was driving them by varied paths
to the very heart of unity, authority and teaching, so as to enable them, as it
were, to draw from the spring of those limpid life-giving waters which they
themselves would spread around the world through many diverse channels.
Years before the Church approved his rule, Don Bosco also cherished the pro-
spect of opening a house in the papal city, but up to 1880 all his attempts
were in vain until, most astonishingly, his nurtured dream seemed suddenly to
break forth into reality. Undeniably it cost him seven years of almost constant
spiritual and physical suffering, but in the long run it won him blessings from
God and admiration from men. This chapter will recount the circumstances
which led to and accompanied the beginnings of the church and hospice of the
Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Castro Pretorio neighborhood.
118
PASTORAL INTENTIONS REGARDING
THE CASTRO PRETORIO
The urban plan designed by Bishop Francis de Merode, minister of Pius IX,
aimed at developing the city's outlying hills, particularly the Castro Pretorio
district. That his plan was well thought out with foresight is borne out by the
fact that, after September 20, 1870, 2 Rome's expansion not only did not stop

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but it accelerated, so that a whole new city seemed to grow up in the area.
However at that time the expansion provided for everything but the spiritual
needs of the ever growing population that poured into the district. The hard-
pressed Pope Pius IX, whose source of revenues was drained with the loss of
the Papal States, was the only one who kept coping with the spiritual needs of
his city.
On December 8, 1870 he had proclaimed St. Joseph patron of the universal
Church and shortly afterward had purchased at his own expense a piece of land
on the Esquiline Hill, intending to erect there a church dedicated to the beloved
patriarch. But he soon changed his mind when in 1871 the Italian bishops vied
with one another in solemnly consecrating their respective dioceses to the
adorable Heart of Jesus. In Rome this generated the idea that in the city of
Christ's Vicar a grand shrine be dedicated to His Divine Heart, from which, as
from an eternal hearth, a new fire of piety might spread from Rome to the
world. Father [Anthony] Maresca, a Barnabite, editor of the Messaggero del
Sacro Cuore [Messenger of the Sacred Heart of Jesus], publicized the project.
And so the saintly Pius IX decided that the land should be used not for a
church to St. Joseph but for a temple to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, rejoicing in
the thought that from that highest point of the Eternal City the adorable heart
of the Redeemer would bless the whole world as from a lofty throne.
Unfortunately, the project kept dragging on endlessly, so that while the new
district spread out in every direction, the neighboring parishes of St. Mary of
the Angels, St. Bernard, St. Mary Major and St. Lawrence Outside the Walls
proved inadequate for the pastoral care of so many people. That saintly Fran-
ciscan, Father Ludovico da Casoria [Naples], helped by young members of
Catholic Action—outstanding among them Attorney Pericoli—did his best to pro-
vide spiritual assistance in a small chapel not far from the site of the planned
church. Meantime death claimed the great Pius IX, and nothing had yet been
done to realize his project.
119
LEO XIII’S COMMITMENT
TO THE SACRED HEART
Map
Leo XIII's ascent to the papal throne signaled the actual
beginning of the enterprise. As bishop of Perugia he had
been one of the first to consecrate his diocese to the
Sacred Heart, and so he immediately endorsed Pius IX's

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plans and energetically moved to implement them. As early as August 1, 1878,
through his vicar, Cardinal Monaco La Valletta, he sent a letter to all the bish-
ops of the Catholic world (except those of France, who were already committed
to building the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Montmartre), asking them to
contribute to this grandiose undertaking through fund-raising drives in their
dioceses. The Plana Federation of Catholic Associations in Rome was charged
with the task of collecting the funds, and a committee of Roman patricians
under the chairmanship of Marquis Julius Merighi was to supervise the con-
struction of the shrine.
The project moved rapidly once it got started. Work was begun to level a hilly
area which rose several yards above the street and blocked construction. Then
excavating for foundations was started. But here the workmen ran into a big
obstacle not uncommon in Rome's subsoil. They struck tall bricked passageways
and corridors, once part of ancient structures that had been built for mining a
sort of clay, then commonly used in Rome to replace sand in mixing mortar.
They were forced to go down some fifty feet to find solid ground on which to
rest the foundations. The cardinal blessed the first stone which was lowered in
place on August 17, 1879, feast of St. Joachim and name day of the reigning
Pontiff.
THE CHURCH’S DESIGN
120
The plans of the church, in Bramante's style, had been drawn up by Count
Francis Vespignani, Vatican architect, but word from Belgium 3 intervened to
cause a curious incident. The cardinal vicar's circular of 1878 to the bishops
had caught the attention of Baroness De Monier, who offered a hundred thou-
sand francs for the church, but on condition that the design of a Belgian archi-
tect, Baron De Bethune, be followed. Furthermore, the good lady clearly stated
that she would not contribute a single cent to build any church in Renaissance
style: she wanted either a Gothic or a Romanesque church in Rome. Cardinal
[Victor] Dechamps, archbishop of Malines, agreed to contact the cardinal vicar.
This condition, of course, created serious problems, especially since the foun-
dations, already under construction, followed Count Vespignani's design. Never-
theless, the cardinal vicar asked Cardinal Dechamps to send him the design he
favored, informing him, however, that neither Gothic nor Romanesque was ac-
ceptable in Rome. To this the archbishop of Malines replied, on sending the
drawing, "Rome, the heart of Catholicism, should possess monuments of every

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important epoch in her history, and it is certainly regrettable that alongside her
Constantinian and classical Renaissance basilicas there be nothing to remind us
of the style of the cathedrals of Cologne, Amiens, York, Rheims, and Westmin-
ster, and so many other marvelous churches of the Catholic world, not to speak
of the cathedral of Milan. I realize that this exclusiveness is a result of histori-
cal events, but this is an opportunity to dispel it."
At any rate, the plans submitted by De Bethune were given careful considera-
tion.
Certainly—the cardinal vicar replied—if we had to put up a church in pure Goth-
ic style, the design you submitted would be excellent, but Roman taste in
churches runs to the classic structure. Furthermore, assuming that the design's
dimensions and style were to be carried out, the sum of one hundred thousand
lire, though handsome in itself, would not be adequate, according to our calcu-
lations.
In turn, Count Vespignani, distinguished exponent of Roman classical architec-
ture, added his own comment to the report sent to the cardinal vicar: "In Rome,
seat of the fine arts, the pure Gothic construction which traces its origin to
121

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barbaric styles never won approval and is in fact being adopted now only in
erecting Protestant churches."
Father Maresca begged to differ, and so he advised the baroness to get Cardi-
nal Dechamps to bring the matter up to the Pope, but the cardinal declined,
feeling that he had nothing to add to what he had already written to Rome.
Hence, because of these specious reasons, the generous offer was withdrawn.
FUNDS EXHAUSTED – WORK INTERRUPTED
We are convinced that Don Bosco, to use a popular maxim, with his ingenious-
ness would have found a way to have his cake and eat it, but at this time he
had as yet nothing to do with this project.
Certainly very few people were as gifted as Don Bosco in raising funds to fi-
nance so many and such grand beneficial projects. Take this Roman venture, for
example. It foundered and ground to a standstill after the initial thrust, even
though it had been launched by the highest authority and was under the spon-
sorship of powerful, aristocratic families. Lack of funds forced the suspension of
all work no sooner than construction had reached ground level. The Pope, al-
ready overburdened with the monumental task of building the apse of the
Church of St. John Lateran and the grand hospital of St. Martha in the Vatican,
felt keenly disappointed and could not endure that kind of failure. Soon, howev-
er, Divine Providence came to his rescue. The information we pass on here was
supplied a few years later by Cardinal [Cajetan] Alimonda.
THE IDEA OF ENTRUSTING
THE ENTERPRISE TO DON BOSCO
122
One day, speaking in consultation with the cardinals, Leo XIII voiced his deep
grief over the enforced suspension of this work. It hindered God's glory, he said,
it hurt the Holy See's honor, and it imperiled the spiritual welfare of a huge
multitude.
"Holy Father, I have a suggestion that will guarantee the success of this pro-
ject," Cardinal Alimonda said.
"What is it?" asked the Pope with some surprise.
"Entrust it to Don Bosco."

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"Would Don Bosco accept?"
"Your Holiness, I know Don Bosco and his total, boundless devotion to the Pope.
Let Your Holiness suggest it, and I am convinced he will accept."
Since this conversation took place in March 1880, at the very time that Don
Bosco was in Rome, Leo XIII asked his cardinal vicar to take the matter up with
him. The cardinal approached Don Bosco about it on the evening of March 24,
without, however, mentioning that it was the Pope's wish. On March 28 he
brought it up again with greater insistence, still speaking as though it were his
own idea. Don Bosco, visualizing the many grave problems he would have to
face, did not commit himself either way, as we know from the testimony given
in the canonization process.
First, as regards finances, he had little to hope for from the Romans. He knew
this from past experience, and the cardinal vicar had written to say as much;
the Romans were not generous.[The facts confirmed this. At the lunch given on
the day of the consecration (14 May 1887), the parish priest and procurator
Fr Dalmazzo, rising to toast and express his gratitude to the benefactors, put
the Romans first. Don Bosco, taking a knife in his hand and tapping his glass a
few times, stopped him mid-speech and amid the general silence calmly ad-
dressed the following words to him: “This is not true. Go ahead.” At that mo-
ment Don Bosco had to think about the unprecedented hardships of his travels
to have the necessary sums necessary for the undertaking. One of the diners
who was astonished by the Blessed's frankness and who often repeated the ac-
count of the episode, was Bishop Jara, former bishop of Ancud in Chile] Nor
could he expect much from the French people, who were concentrating all their
efforts on their own great national shrine of the Sacred Heart and their private
schools. He also had reason to believe that, generous as they had always been
in helping to support his boys, they would take no interest in a new church for
Rome. Not even Italy, he feared, could be relied upon because of the country's
ruinous economy, its overburdening taxation, and the crying need of maintaining
the promised essential welfare services. He realized too the high cost of build-
ing in Rome, far higher than in any other Italian city. And did he not already
have a good number of building projects weighing him down, such as the
Church of St. John the Evangelist in Turin and that of Mary, Help of Christians
in Vallecrosia, and other projects at Marseille, Nice, and La Spezia? Was it wise
to put more irons into the fire?
123
Another reason too for not getting into this venture was the cool response he
detected to the planned church at Castro Pretorio. The whole world had been

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told that the shrine was being planned as a monument in honor of Pius IX, and
every bishop in the Catholic world had been asked to collect donations for it,
but hardly had one hundred thousand lire been raised when the whole cam-
paign died out, and all resources seemed to dry up.
There was also another problem. In accepting the commitment, Don Bosco
would have bound himself to ratify the contracts drawn up by the previous ad-
ministration, which still had a voice in the enterprise; furthermore, those con-
tracts ran into substantial sums, as was customary for any work being con-
tracted with the Holy See.
DON BOSCO ACCEPTS THE TASK
However, beyond these worldly considerations, Don Bosco never lost sight of
two loftier concerns: the honor of the Church and of the Holy See. What a dis-
grace that Catholic Rome should cut so sorry a figure before Protestants, who
with impressive funds had already erected several churches while the Catholics
had not succeeded in building even one! It was a shame that it could actually
be said that the Pope's call had elicited such a feeble echo throughout the
world. Hence, while weighing the pros and cons for quite some time, Don Bosco
found it hard to excuse himself from this heavy burden.
In the end it was the Pope's own word which dispelled all Don Bosco's doubts.
In his long-awaited audience with Leo XIII on April 5, the Pope manifested his
wish to him, assuring him that by accepting he would be doing something holy
and most pleasing to the Vicar of Christ who was exceedingly disappointed at
finding himself unable to continue the project. "For me the wish of the Pope is a
command," Don Bosco replied. "I accept the trust that Your Holiness has gra-
ciously given me."
"But I shall not be able to give you any money," the Pope said.
124
"I do not ask Your Holiness for money. All I ask is your blessing and all those
spiritual favors you may see fit to grant to me and to those who will contrib-
ute to build this temple to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the capital of the
Catholic world. Indeed, if Your Holiness will allow me, I shall also build next to
the church a festive oratory, and a large hospice where very many poor boys,
abounding in that district, can be sheltered and be taught some skill or trade."
"Willingly I bless you and all those who shall work with you in so holy an under-

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taking," the Pope answered, "and I call down God's blessing upon it now. Work
out the details with the cardinal vicar."
Once word got about in Rome that the Holy Father had commissioned Don
Bosco to build a boarding school at Castro Pretorio in addition to a shrine to
the Sacred Heart, several new and unseasoned members of the city council
called on the minister of justice, [Thomas] Villa, to ask how they were to look
upon the new institute which probably would vastly expand.
Ten years had not yet elapsed since Italian troops had stormed through Porta
Pia, and so the anticlericals sounded the alarm at every breeze that wafted
from the Vatican. The minister, though true to his kind, knew Don Bosco fairly
well and, as deputy, represented the constituency of Castelnuovo. Having silent-
ly heard them out, he stated forthrightly, "Don Bosco is doing a lot of good to
many boys by rescuing them from evil ways and giving them an education. He
does not meddle in politics. Leave him alone."
When Don Bosco told Marquis Scati about this at the end of 1880, the latter
could not help but voice his apprehension that the Freemasons in both the city
and state governments might wage war against him. "That's why we must move
cautiously—guileless as doves, but cunning as serpents. I have always scrupu-
lously abided by the law, giving to Caesar what is Caesar's, nothing more and
nothing less. God help me if I acted imprudently. That would throw too many
boys back into the streets!"
126
THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE
VICARIATE AND DON BOSCO
After the papal audience, Don Bosco drafted a memorandum and personally
handed it to the cardinal vicar on the evening of April 18, two days before
leaving Rome. [Chronicle of Fr. Berto: "Sunday, April 18. This evening Don Bosco
went to the cardinal vicar and gave him a memorandum to be handed to the
Holy Father concerning the building of the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
in Rome."] The brief document summarized the chief points which were later
drafted into the definitive contract.
Rome, April 10, 1880
To His Eminence Cardinal Raphael Monaco La Valletta, Vicar of His Holiness in
Rome.

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I. Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
Monument to His Holiness Pius IX of Beloved Memory With the sole aim of pro-
moting God's greater glory and the honor of our holy religion, joined by all my
religious, I gladly cooperate with Your Eminence in the construction already in
progress of the church to be dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus as a trib-
ute to the glorious and ever beloved memory of the Supreme Pontiff, Pius IX.
As for the conditions of a contract, it is my wish that Your Eminence represent
both .parties: the ecclesiastical authorities and the Salesian Congregation, upon
which Your Eminence has always looked with fatherly concern. However, since
you have asked me to express my own thoughts on this matter, I do so willingly,
leaving it entirely to your own experience and prudence to modify any and all
articles, as Your Eminence deems best.
II. The Congregation of St. Francis de Sales
1. In the person of its rector, the Pious Society of St. Francis de Sales commits
itself to cooperate with every means available to further the work in progress,
raise funds and procure construction materials needed to complete this holy
enterprise hopefully within two and a half or, at the latest, three years.
2. Once the construction is completed, the Salesian Congregation will take the
responsibility of providing all church furnishings, sacred vessels and vestments,
and assume payment of fees, maintenance, repairs and so, on.
3. We shall provide personnel for pastoral care—i.e., priests to offer Mass for
the people, hear confessions, preach, and teach the children catechism.
4. Either while the church is being constructed or after, the hospice will have a
festive oratory for neighborhood youngsters to teach them their catechism,
conduct evening classes and, if necessary, also run a day school, as is the tra-
dition of the Congregation's houses founded for this purpose.
5. After the church's construction, the Salesian staff will be subject to the au-
thority of the ordinary in the same way as all churches belonging to religious
congregations. If the ordinary decides to establish the Church of the Sacred
Heart as a parish, the rector shall choose the pastor from the Salesians, and
the rector major of the Congregation will present the candidates to His Emi-
nence, the cardinal vicar of Rome, who will select the priest he judges best
qualified for that position to further God's glory and the good of souls.
III. The Church Authority
1. His Eminence the cardinal vicar shall continue his material and moral sup-
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port to this undertaking which he himself began and promoted with such dedi-
cation; he shall hand over the grounds and building in their present state to the
disposal of the Reverend John Bosco. All moneys collected for this purpose by
His Eminence or others shall be wholly and exclusively used for the construction
of this memorial church.
2. He shall allow fund-raising to continue in those places and with appeals to
those people whom it shall be deemed wise to approach.
3. The cardinal vicar shall have no responsibility for either the material con-
struction or for purchasing further property needed for the aforesaid construc-
tion.
4. I respectfully request the cardinal vicar to submit these articles to the Holy
Father, asking him to modify them as he wishes. They shall not be binding until
they bear the approval and blessing of His Holiness.
Fr John Bosco

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THE APPROVAL OF THE SUPERIOR COUNCIL
As required by the (Salesian] constitutions Don Bosco could not fully commit
himself to a project of such magnitude without first consulting his chapter.
Hence, on arriving in Turin, he summoned his councilors and presented the Holy
Father's proposal to them. The ensuing discussion was a long one. All agreed
that the Pope's proposal was a distinguished honor, but also a most weighty
burden, since they already were laden with debts amounting to three hundred
thousand lire. Under the circumstances it seemed neither wise nor conscionable
to take up an enterprise that would swallow up millions more. The vote that
followed was six negative and only one positive—the last most certainly Don
Bosco's own. Seeing that the Holy Father's proposal had been rejected, he said
with a smile, "You have all given me a resounding no for an answer, and that is
fine, because you acted with all the prudence needed to make serious, major
decisions such as this. However, were you to give me a yes answer, I can prom-
ise you that the Sacred Heart of Jesus will supply the funds to build the Church,
He will pay off our debts, and He will even give us a handsome bonus as well."
His words, vibrant with such trust in Divine Providence, instantly overturned
their decision and, on a second ballot, they all voted affirmatively.
Moreover, on studying the blueprints of the church, the chapter members
thought it too small and immediately, at that same session, agreed to submit to
the Holy Father a vaster project which would be more worthy of the Sacred
Heart and of Rome. It was done. The "bonus" was the hospice itself, which did
not figure in the Pope's intentions, but was an extra, almost a kind of reward
offered by the Sacred Heart. The Congregation's debts, as Cardinal Cagliero
testified at the apostolic process, were paid with no strain, as Don Bosco had
promised.
No time was lost in opening negotiations.
THE FIRST SALESIAN RESIDENCE IN ROME
While a final agreement was still being drafted in Turin, Don Bosco quickly pur-
chased a property adjoining the original piece of land; it had a small house on it
at its extreme end where the hospice today lies along the corner of Via Marsala
and Via Marghera. The sale was for forty-nine thousand, five hundred lire. This
little two-storied house served as the first Salesian residence during the period
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of construction. Don Bosco's intent in enlarging the building site was to allow
room for extending the length of the church and putting up the hospice. He had
no idea that he had just blasted the Protestant plans to erect a church of their
own there. However, the cardinal vicar knew it and stated that he was delight-
ed with the purchase." But when it came to the question of enlarging the
church, His Eminence was not so delighted. Maybe he still felt responsible for
the enterprise and feared a second failure. It certainly took a great deal to
convince him, but at long last the determined intervention of the architect
overcame his opposition: With the church's width remaining as stated in the
plans, its length was increased from thirty-five to forty-six meters for two new
naves, and another eighteen meters for the apse.In fact, Don Bosco recom-
mended to Fr Dalmazzo: I would only beg him (the cardinal) to side with us in
ensuring that the church is large enough. As the present plans stand, its public
space is barely four hundred meters long whereas it should be twice that
length. I foresee that before the church is even completed the new parish will
have no less than six thousand souls. To accommodate one-third of this popu-
lation, the church should be nine hundred meters long.
COLLECTING THE FUNDS THAT WERE NEEDED
To inspire wealthy, generous and pious people to contribute, Don Bosco drew
them closer to the Church and to the papacy by obtaining for them from the
Holy See suitable honorific titles and spiritual favors. As they felt they were
being held especially closer and dearer to the Vicar of Jesus Christ, they strove
to become worthy of this honor by doing their best to cooperate in those pro-
jects which they thought would please the Holy Father.
The letter sent to Fr Dalmazzo is an example: it also talks about the compro-
mise for the purchase of the new land and touches on the legal transfer of
ownership over the old land and the construction already begun.
130
My dear Father Dalmazzo,
I am enclosing two petitions for you to submit to Cardinal Giannelli, or per-
haps you might do better to give them to Cardinal [Theodolph] Mertel. They
are for two distinguished benefactors of ours, both fervent Catholics.
Madame Prat has already contributed sixty-five thousand lire for Peter's Pence,
and she will be sending further sums soon.
I realize that there may be fees to be paid, but I will pay them myself, so that I

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can say this is a gift. It will bear much fruit.
Mr. Caranti has been notified by Commendatore Fontana that we were also
purchasing the little house at a reasonable price, and he said yes. It would be
good to talk to him. The agreement gives us time to raise the money, and that
is fine. I'll take care of everything, especially the loan. I have high hopes.
Notify me immediately as soon as the notary's deed of transfer [of the land for
the Sacred Heart Church] has been made out to us.
The final draft we read in our chapter meeting has been totally approved.
Be at ease. If we go bankrupt we can always sneak off to Patagonia. So go on
tranquilly.
Should Mr. Sigismondi have need of the sum he advanced, draw it from the
money we have already deposited, or write and I shall provide. God bless us all.
Always in Jesus Christ,
Yours affectionately, Fr. John
Bosco
OWNERSHIP AND USUFRUCT
The "clause" about which Don Bosco says in his next letter to Fr Dalmazzo, that
he has reflected on at length refers to Article 3 of the agreement, which was
then modified to meet his suggestion.
Turin, 14-7-1880
My dear Father Dalmazzo,
I have reflected at great length on the clause concerning the possibility that
our Congregation may cease to exist. In the eyes of the law we are neither a
moral nor a legal body. At any rate, in the event of default, a parish church
belonging to the ecclesiastical authority will always be respected more than
property which we can possess only as individuals.
131
I believe that we can still make an arrangement if it is not too late: church and
rectory belong to the ordinary of Rome in perpetuity, while their use shall like-
wise belong to the Society of St. Francis de Sales in perpetuity. Let's leave the
rest in the hands of Divine Providence. Unless the matter has already been set-
tled and sealed, you might mention the above idea to the cardinal vicar. Other-

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wise, let everything stand as written.
Yours affectionately,
Fr. John Bosco
While discussing this with Father Dalmazzo, the good cardinal vicar let slip a
remark: "Everyone says that Don Bosco is the Salesian Congregation. As long as
he lives, fine, but once he dies, everything will vanish like a mist before the sun."
However, he willingly listened to all Father Dalmazzo had to say in defense of
the stability of the Congregation.
Father Dalmazzo closed his argument by remarking that Don Bosco would not
have set such stress on the question of ownership if he and the Congregation
would always be fortunate enough to have as cardinal vicar someone like His
Eminence, who was truly a father to the Salesians. He would then leave every-
thing in his hands. However, since times change, prudence counseled him not to
yield on this point. The cardinal was pleased, and he said that he would speak
of the matter as Don Bosco understood it to the Holy Father.
On July 14 Father Dahnazzo wrote to Don Bosco: "The cardinal vicar spoke at
length about this question to the Holy Father, who replied, ‘Get in touch with
Father Dalmazzo and have him write to Don Bosco to ask him in my name not
to raise any obstacles to this project because the salvation of souls is at stake.’
" Don Bosco reiterated his instructions to his procurator by return mail, as fol-
lows: "Ownership of the church must remain forever in the hands of the eccle-
siastical authority; its use forever belongs to our Congregation...”
THE FIRST SALESIAN PARISH PRIEST
132
For a long time questions and answers kept being tossed back and forth be-
tween the vicariate of Rome and the superior chapter as they tried to settle on
the language of the contract. It was still being discussed when Don Bosco offi-
cially presented his candidate for the pastor of the parish, which had already
been given official state recognition at the end of March; it had been canoni-
cally established on February 2 of the previous year.
Turin, July 31, 1880
Your Eminence,
From various sources I understand that it is your intention to entrust the ad-

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ministration of the new parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to the Salesians. In
this case I would suggest that your choice fall on our general procurator, Fa-
ther Francis Dalmazzo, doctor of letters. As soon as the appointment becomes
effective, I shall assign an adequate number of priests to assist him, with the
assurance that they have the qualifications proper to those who dedicate their
lives to the sacred care of souls.
Our humble Congregation has already many reasons to be deeply thankful to
Your Eminence, and on behalf of all of us I assure you that we shall endeavor
to repay the benefits you lavishly bestow on us daily. I am greatly honored to
pay you my respects.
Your most devoted servant,
Fr. John Bosco
The decree of appointment was not issued until July 12, 1881, and Father
Dalmazzo, the appointee, was not informed until the following August 3.
Despite the good will of both contracting parties, disagreements on certain
points kept emerging until the fall, while Don Bosco kept striving to eliminate
any and all future causes of friction. In the first half of October, discussions
were still being held concerning parish salaries. The superiors in Turin were un-
decided about asking for a stipend and, if so, to whom they should apply: to the
municipal authorities, the state government, or the Holy See. At last on October
18 Don Bosco wrote to the procurator, "As for a parish stipend, we will abide
by whatever the Holy Father decides or whatever His Eminence the cardinal
vicar advises."
In the end the tenth article of the agreement settled the matter.
WORK RESTARTS
In the meantime, the construction crews were very slowly resuming, and Father
[Anthony]
133
Sala [the economer general] began shopping for the granite columns specified
by the architect. In the above letter Don Bosco wrote, "Father Sala is getting
estimates on the columns for the Sacred Heart Church. I shall keep in touch
with you, and if you have any question, let me know immediately. . . . Faith,
prayer, and let's go forward.
In November payment fell due to the Tiberina Bank for a considerable portion

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of the loan obtained to purchase the land, house and construction materials,
and no one knew where the money was to come from. A public appeal could
not yet be made through the press because final formalities were still incom-
plete. Don Bosco's concern is quite apparent in this letter.
Turin, November 24, 1880
My dear Father Dalmazzo,
I have received a letter stating that we have an outstanding debt of thirty-nine
thousand five hundred lire with Caranti. I had not adverted to this proviso. In
this financial crisis everyone is yelling and drawing their purse strings tighter! Is
there anyone we can rely on in Rome? Look about far and near and get back
to me.
It is absolutely essential that we start a campaign for raising funds for the Sa-
cred Heart Church, but until negotiations are closed, we cannot go public. Still,
we haven't a penny to our name. So get things over with!…
SIGNING THE AGREEMENT
However the situation kept dragging because Don Bosco had his doubts about
two articles. Article 8 imposed a deadline for terminating construction, and
Article 13 concerned the eventuality that, if ever no qualified Salesian would be
available, the ecclesiastical authority might appoint a pastor and administrator
even for life. "The article obliging us [to complete the construction of the
church] within six years from now [and the construction of the rectory within
nine years] and the article on a lifelong appointment of an administrator must
be amended," Don Bosco wrote on December 9. To emphasize this, he enclosed
a note written by Father Rua on behalf of the superior chapter and signed by
himself. Its enlightened prudence and holy simplicity reflect the spirit of our
beloved founder very clearly.
134
Your Eminence,
The superior chapter of the Society of St. Francis de Sales, through its rector
major, asks that you approve two minor amendments in the articles of agree-
ment concerning the Church of the Sacred Heart. If we were assured that we
would always be dealing with Your Eminence, we would accept these and all
other conditions. But we are trying to forestall disagreements which may all too
easily arise when you and I have passed on and the administration falls into the

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hands of others.
Article 8. We have made the following addition: "Provided circumstances do not
arise beyond our control, all needed work on the parish house must be com-
pleted in the ninth year."
Article 13. We have eliminated the phrase "even for life" after the words "vicar
or administrator" to give the ecclesiastical authority complete freedom of ac-
tion and to make it possible for the Salesian Congregation to resume normal
administration of the parish and forestall eventual problems certain to arise if
the boys of the hospice and those of he festive oratory or day school ever had
to use the parish church facilities and the church were being administered by a
non-Salesian priest.
135
For myself, however, I believe I would wrong Divine Providence were I to so
much as harbor any doubt that either of the possibilities cited in Articles 8 and
13 might come to pass, or that the unlimited confidence which has led us into
this vast, costly undertaking might not win for us the continued benevolence of
Your Eminence.
I am not sure if I have made myself clear, but your enlightened wisdom will

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supply for my lack of clarity or our procurator general will explain to you. I have
given him full powers in this and in all affairs of the Congregation.
In deepest gratitude, I am honored to remain,
Yours devotedly,
Fr. John
Bosco
The cardinal vicar was agreeable to the two amendments Don Bosco requested,
i.e., the added reservation in the event of circumstances beyond control and the
substitution of "temporary" in place of "even for life." This ended the dispute on
the terms of the agreement, which was signed by Don Bosco on December 11
and by the cardinal vicar, with the Pope's approval, on December 18, 1880. In
the intervening week, when Father Dalmazzo called on the Pope to offer him
the best wishes and respects of Don Bosco and the Salesians, the Holy Father
asked him if the signing had taken place.
When he was told that the cardinal vicar would be signing very shortly, he said,
"Act quickly. Do all the good you can!"
DEBTS AND PAYMENTS
Meanwhile the overdue note amounting to forty-two thousand lire had to be
paid to the Tiberina Bank before the end of December. "We have no hope of
finding any money here," wrote Father Dalmazzo to Don Bosco on December 1.
"We'd have a good chance if you were here!" And he kept insisting on the need
for some money."
136
Don Bosco's thinking on this point is clear in the following advice he gave his
despairing procurator in a letter dated December 9: "To settle our debt with
the Tiberina Bank, let them understand that since we have not been able to sell
the property we have put on the market, we do not have the cash available. So,
if they can wait, we will now pay the interest as we are doing for the other
loan. Otherwise ask them to grant us an extension and allow us to pay it off
in installments. We will endeavor to pay off the whole sum in a short period of
time. On your part, do your utmost to get more donations. If you can't succeed,
rob some bank or, better still, help yourself to some banker's coffers! You'll get
more mail on other matters from the others."

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Once the bank realized the power of Don Bosco's influence, it agreed to an
extended period of installments. In fact, Father Dalmazzo, who had power of
attorney from Don Bosco, was allowed substantial loans over a period of seven
years, with no collateral beyond a receipt slip. On one occasion the bank presi-
dent even gave him a loan of eighty thousand lire, saying, "It is for Don Bosco.
He has Divine Providence at his disposal, so we can't lose."
TRUST IN PROVIDENCE
Indeed, only unlimited trust in Divine Providence convinced Don Bosco to shoul-
der this weighty burden. Those who were looking at this project with merely
human wisdom were shaking their head at such unheard-of boldness. An im-
portant personage once asked him where he hoped to raise that kind of money
in those exceptionally critical times. "From Divine Providence!" he replied. When
the other asked him if he was being given special treatment by Divine Provi-
dence, he answered, "Thank God, He has never failed us."" Indeed, we shall see
that he spent two million lire on the church and one and a half million on the
hospice—in those days astronomical sums!
However, we must rightly add that he never tempted Divine Providence and did
all he could to help himself. We can hardly believe how much he toiled and
suffered in carrying out the Pope's desire—agonies and pains which, says Father
Cerruti who witnessed them, shortened his life. When all was done, Leo XIII,
considering everything, told Don Bosco's successor some time after the former's
death: "It was truly a happy thought to entrust Don Bosco with the construc-
tion of the Church of the Sacred Heart at Castro Pretorio!"
But Don Bosco looked further into the future. Our own Bishop John
Marenco recalled a mysterious remark he made which we should not let time
obliterate. On the very day he accepted that burdensome assignment, Don
Bosco asked him, "Do you know why we accepted that house in Rome?"
"No," he answered.
137
"Listen, then. We agreed because one day, when there will be another Pope and
he shall be the right one, we shall set up our headquarters there to evangelize
the Roman countryside. It will be no less important a task than that of evange-
lizing Patagonia. Then will the Salesians be acknowledged and their glory shine
forth!"

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A prophecy? True, the Pope of today is not the Pope of those days, but he is
just as he should be. As for the rest, time alone will give the answer. However,
prophecy or not, we see at least the flash of the zeal which constantly burned
in the heart of our saintly father who, while working on some project, was also
contemplating future ones.
HIS TIME IN ROME IN 1884
From March 24, 1880, when Cardinal Valletta asked Don Bosco to take on the
task of building the church, Don Bosco committed much of his time and energy
to ensure that the work proceeded his time and energy so that the work would
proceed quickly, against the many unforeseen events and the large expenses to
be to be faced. For this reason, Don Bosco returned to Rome in 1884, where
he sought donors and where he launched a lottery, the proceeds of which
would be used to reduce the debts already accumulated.
He arrived in the city on 14 April, and this time he could finally live in a house
of his own! The young people of the oratory received him festively and, seeing
them, his thoughts returned to their companions from Valdocco, to whom he
had Fr Lemoyne write a letter.
He had hoped to be able to rest a little in Rome (he had just returned from a
tiring trip to France), but the preparations for the lottery and the difficulties in
obtaining the Salesian Congregation's long sought-after privileges, together with
the hundreds of audiences he was forced to grant to people who wanted to be
received by him, meant that instead of resting, Don Bosco became even more
tired, even though he had limited his visits to illustrious personalities to a maxi-
mum, as he had done on previous trips.
On 8 May Don Bosco gave the Conference to the Cooperators (at Tor de'
Specchi). The weather was very bad, but a good number of people braved the
weather to listen to Don Bosco.
138
RECEIVED BY POPE LEO XIII
9 May was the day set for the audience granted to him by the Pope. Leo XIII,
after inquiring about his health, asked about the progress of the work at the
Castro Pretorio and Don Bosco took the opportunity to propose an idea of his
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Afterwards the Pope spoke about the Church of the Sacred Heart and asked:
“What are they working on now?”
Don Bosco explained how far the building had progressed and the work that
was then being done. He spoke about the obstacles encountered, the good that
was already being accomplished in the completed sanctuary, which served as a
parish church for the time being, and how the congregation of one thousand
persons was gathering in the church every evening during the month of May.
The conversation went on to include the festive Oratory, the school frequented
by two hundred boys, the Sunday catechism classes that were attended by
about three hundred girls, the hospice that was being built, and the premises
that had either been built or bought to lodge nearly fifty boys.
The Pope listened with keen interest to his report, and then Don Bosco asked, "I
wish to ask the Holy Father permission to express an idea of mine."
“I would like to ask Your Holiness to allow me to express an idea of mine.”
"Speak up," the Holy Father said.
"This church is Catholic and the whole world is contributing to its construction,"
Don Bosco said. "The hospice is for the boys of every nation on earth. I would
like Your Holiness to participate in this undertaking, too."
“No, I must not refuse,” said the Pope. “And what would you propose?”
"I must not refuse," the Pope said. "What would you propose?"
"That Your Holiness assume responsibility for the cost of the facade of the Sa-
cred Heart Church. How wonderful it would be if one could read this epigraph
carved along its pediment:: Catholicorum pietas construxit, frontem autem huius
ecclesiae Leo XIII Pont. Max. proprio aedificavit!”
"So you have already thought of the inscription!"
"This or some other more suitable one, provided it expresses the same senti-
ment."
The Pope began to laugh. "And why not? I agree to the façade. I will provide for
it."
"Nevertheless, Holy Father, I do not want you to be alone in building the fa-
cade," Don Bosco explained. "I want to help you in every way I can. Did not
Countess Fontenay bring you ten thousand lire the other day?"
"Yes, she did."
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"Well, it was Don Bosco who advised her to make that offering. Soon Your Holi-
ness will receive another sum of ten thousand lire, and I also know that some-
one else in Marseille is prepared to give a generous offering to Your Holiness,
so that work on the church may continue."
"Good, good," the Pope agreed. "So that is settled then."
"I thank you for all your goodness, Holy Father. Allow me to say one more thing
- I want the world to know of your generosity, so if you will allow me, I will
advertise it in the Salesian Bulletin."
"You may give this matter whatever publicity you wish, according to your own
discretion."
In his suggestion, Don Bosco had perceived another way to promote donations
to Peter's Pence.
THE LETTER FROM ROME, 1884
Don Bosco's 19th stay in the Eternal City became important because of a let-
ter, the famous "letter from Rome". This letter, written on 10 May and bearing
Don Bosco’s signature, is the account of a dream he had about the progress of
the Valdocco Oratory.

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Old and tired as he was, he instructed his secretary (Fr Lemoyne) to draft the
text, after giving him some brief indications of the dream.
“On the nights when he was unwell, Don Bosco had had one of those epoch-
making dreams. Htold it to Fr Lemoyne on several occasions and then had him
set it out and read it to him, correcting it. He then had it rewritten and copied.
Since it concerned especially the members of the Salesian Congregation, a new
version was necessary so that it could be read in public in the presence of all
the young people of the Oratory.
Therefore, the whole of the second part had to be kept, and what was said in
the first part had to be set aside, i.e. only the scene of the two recreations.
This letter was sent on 10 May. Read in public by Father Rua, it had a great
effect; for several years now the young people had not been accustomed to
hearing letters addressed to them by Don Bosco. In the Oratory, then this sig-
nalled a reform of which we shall speak as our story progresses. The first effect
of this dream was that Don Bosco became aware of the state of so many con-
sciences, even of some who seemed to be very good, so that some were ex-
pelled from the house. (Braido).
Today the letter from Rome is considered a pillar among Don Bosco's pedagog-
ical writings. It is a short but dense text, in which one finds the authentic, living
Don Bosco, the father who loves his children. It is not a treatise, but a letter
flowing from the heart, from Don Bosco’s love and educational experience.
It is a letter from a father who is far away but is nostalgic for his children.
Just as he was about to leave the eternal city, Don Bosco had a letter written
to the Oratory to relate a dream of the greatest importance. He had this
dream on one of the nights that he had been feeling sicker than usual. He told
Father John Baptist Lemoyne about it in several installments, ordering him to
write it down.
On May 6th, he had had someone write to Father Michael Rua, "Don Bosco is
working on a letter he wishes to be sent to the boys, and in it he means to tell
his dearly beloved children many wonderful things." This letter was mailed on
May 10th, but Father Michael Rua did not think that it should be read out in
its entirety in public, and so he requested that a copy be sent to him that was
suitable for the pupils. Father John Baptist Lemoyne redrafted the letter with
only the passages that did not deal with their superiors. When Father Michael
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Rua read it to them one evening after prayers, the boys were enraptured, espe-
cially when the saint wrote that he had read into their consciences. After he
returned home, there was a steady coming and going of boys in his room, all of
them wanting to know if he had read their conscience, and if so, what he had
seen. This had two principal effects: the beginning of a reform in the life of the
Oratory and the dismissal of some boys who only seemed to be excellent in
their conduct. (MB XVII, 80-81)
THE SALESIAN COAT OF ARMS
The Salesian 'coat of arms' to be placed on the Sacred Heart Church came into
being that same year.
Up until this time (1884), the Congregation did not have its own official coat
of arms as all other religious families. As a seal, the pious Salesian Society had
used the figure of St. Francis of Sales surrounded by a Latin text. It was only on
September 12, 1884 that Father Anthony Sala submitted a sketch of a Salesi-
an coat of arms to the Superior Chapter, when given the opportunity of having
it placed on the facade of the Church of the Sacred Heart between the coat of
arms of Pius IX and Leo XIII. The design had been drawn by Professor Boidi and
was comprised of the following: a shield with a big anchor in the middle; to the
right, the bust of St. Francis of Sales and to the left, a flaming heart with a six-
pointed star on top; below, a forest with high mountains in the back ground; on
the bottom two branches (one of palm, the other of laurel) with the stems
entwined and encircling the shield half way; on the lower portion, a waving
streamer with the words "Sinite parvulos venire ad me" [Let the children come
to me].
142
Some objected to this motto because others had already used it. Father Julius
Barberis suggested that it be changed to "Work and Temperance" this idea be-
ing prompted by Don Bosco's dream in which the two words had been proposed
precisely as the distinguishing coat of arms of the Congregation. Father Celes-
tine Durando would have preferred "Maria Auxilium Christianorum, ora pro
nobis." It was Don Bosco who solved the dilemma by saying, "A motto was
already adopted in the early days of the Oratory at the time of the Convitto
when I was visiting the prisons: 'Da mihi animas, caetera tolle"' [Give me souls,
take away the rest]. The Chapter acclaimed Don Bosco and agreed to this his-
toric motto.

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The saint did not care for the star above the shield because he felt it was too
similar to the Freemasonic coat of arms, so he had it replaced by the cross
with rays emanating from it. Later, the star was inserted on the left, above the
heart, thus linking the three symbols of the theological virtues.
The motto selected had been visible ab antico [sic], written in big letters on the
door of Don Bosco's little room, so testified the oldest pupils of the Oratory,
among whom were Canon Ballesio and Cardinal John Cagliero, who said they
had seen it there as children. Nothing could have better expressed the supreme
goal of the saint in all his actions and sufferings, in his writings and his talks; a
goal that was to constitute the essential program of the society he founded.
His major concern had always been the welfare of souls, which is sufficiently
evident to anyone who reads his life story.
LAST TIME IN ROME
(passim, from MB XVIII 257 ff.)
He left for Rome on the morning of the 20th of April, 1887. "He left home for
his journey but he was looking as if he would not be able to make it even as far
as Moncalieri," Father Joseph Lazzero wrote.'
He was now old and tired, but he still wanted to undertake this journey to the
Eternal City, which he knew was the last in his lifetime.
Don Bosco himself explained the reason why he had set out on the journey to
some priests in Arezzo:
"What do you want?" he answered. "It is an order from the Pope and one can-
not say 'no' to the Pope. In a few days the church of the Sacred Heart will be
consecrated at Castro Pretorio. When the Pope came to know about it, he
asked our superior in Rome, 'Is Don Bosco coming to Rome for the consecra-
tion?' When the superior answered that my health would never have allowed it,
the Pope said, 'No, I want him to be here. Write and tell him that if he does not
come, I will not sign his passport to Heaven.' So you realize that it is also in my
own interest that I go to retrieve such a precious document which I shall cer-
tainly be needing before long." The archpriest of Capannole who described this
incident for us affirms that these were Don Bosco's exact words. So this is
something that we would never have found out from any other source, namely,
that the arduous journey undertaken by Don Bosco had been an act of obedi-
ence to the Pope.
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He left for Rome on the morning of the 30th, and arrived at the Termini rail-
road station a little after three o'clock in the afternoon. As he was moving to-
ward the exit, supported by others, but still finding it difficult, he shared gra-
cious and at times amusing words with all the people who had gone to meet
him. Two sisters already known to him showed up and said that if he would
allow them, they would pay him a visit. Smiling, Don Bosco replied, "It costs
somewhere between ten and twelve thousand lire to visit Don Bosco in Rome."
But then he added, "Nevertheless, I will be pleased to grant you both an audi-
ence gratis."
He entered the Salesian house from via Magenta. The door was decorated with
festoons, the pillars in the hall decorated with flowers, and there was a poster
hanging on the outer wall of the apse: Rome is overjoyed and exultant to wel-
come within its walls the new Philip, Don John Bosco.
The boys and the superiors were waiting for him under the portico. He sat down
on a plain stool and allowed them all to kiss his hand. Then he listened affec-
tionately to their singing and declamations. At the end of the little entertain-
ment, he wittily remarked to those who surrounded him as he was climbing the
first steps leading up to the floor above, "You have read some compositions and
talked about so many things but you did not say a word about dinner." Every-
one burst out laughing and replied that dinner was ready for him. Several gen-
tlemen, among who was the tall figure of Prince Augustus Czartoryski, sat down
at table with him.
PAPAL AUDIENCE
On 13 May, the eve of the solemn consecration of the Basilica, the saint was
received in audience by the Holy Father.
144
The Pope gave him a festive welcome, and did not permit him to kneel down to
kiss his foot, but asked Bishop Della Volpe to bring a small armchair nearer.
Since the prelate had put it at some distance from the Pope, the Holy Father
himself pulled it nearer to him and bade Don Bosco sit, pressing his hand
affectionately between his own, and repeating, "Oh! Dear Don Bosco, how are
you...How are you?" Then he rose and said, "Perhaps you feel cold, Don Bosco,
do you not?" So saying, he went to fetch a large fur, and returned with it say-
ing in a tone of friendly intimacy, "Do you see this lovely ermine fur that was
given to me today for my priestly jubilee? I want you to be the first one to use

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it." And he put it across Don Bosco's knees. Then, sitting once more, he again
took his hand and politely asked for news about himself.
Don Bosco had been silent until then and was deeply touched by this gesture of
fatherly kindness on the part of the Vicar of Jesus Christ. Now he answered, "I
am old, Holy Father. I am seventy-two years old. This is my last trip, the con-
clusion of all my undertakings. Before I die, I wanted to see Your Holiness once
more, to receive your blessing. I have been graciously heard. Now nothing else
is left for me but to sing, Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine, secundum ver-
bum tuum, in pace, quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum: LUMEN ad revela-
tionem gentium et GLORIAM plebis tuae Israel." He intentionally stressed the
words lumen and gloriam, applying them to Leo XIII, who was usually hailed as
the lumen in caelo in the pseudo-prophecy of Saint Malachy.
The Holy Father pointed out that Don Bosco's age was less advanced than his,
that he was seventy-eight years old and was hopeful that he would see his
dear Don Bosco again. "Plan to live longer," he said "until the day when you will
hear that Leo XIII is dead, be at peace!"
"Holy Father, in certain cases, your word is infallible," Don Bosco answered,
"and I would gladly accept your good wishes; but believe me, I have come to
the end of my days."
The Holy Father then asked for news about the boys, his houses, and showed a
great interest about the missions. He also asked him whether he were in need
of anything. Don Bosco told him about everything, particularly of the Church of
the Sacred Heart which was to be consecrated the following day. In conclusion,
he appealed to him on behalf of the young singers that had come from Turin,
who were very anxious to see the Pope and receive his blessing.
The Pope expressed his satisfaction for what he had been told, saying that he
certainly would like to see Don Bosco's boys and talk with them, and he insisted
forcefully that the Salesians should strive to keep Don Bosco's spirit throughout
the Congregation. "Urge the Salesians to be obedient above all," he said, "and
tell them to be faithful to the rules and the traditions you are leaving them. I
know that you have had wonderful results with frequent confession and com-
munion among your boys. Continue, and see to it that in their turn, the Salesi-
ans continue to urge the boys entrusted to them to keep up with this helpful
practice. I want to urge you and your Vicar to pay equal attention to the num-
ber of Salesians and to the degree of holiness of those you have already. It is
not the number that enhances the glory of God, but the virtue, the holiness of
the members of a Congregation. Therefore, be cautious and strict when admit-
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ting new members to your Society. Make sure first of all that they are of prov-
en morality."
Then, taking Don Bosco once again by the hand, he asked him confidentially
what he thought about the future events within the Church. Don Bosco hesitat-
ed, saying that the Holy Father knew how public things were going on better
than he did. But the Pope insisted, "I am not asking you about the present situ-
ation, for I know that myself. I am asking about the future."
"But I am not a prophet," Don Bosco replied, smiling. Nevertheless, he was
obliged to comply, as he told Father John Baptist Lemoyne later when he re-
ported his conversation to him. He told the Pope what he thought and what he
knew. He never revealed to anybody what he meant by the words "what he
knew."
Perhaps the Holy Father would have liked to keep him longer still had he not
realized his painful condition. Seeing that the Pope was about to let him go,
Don Bosco said that he had his Vicar and his secretary with him and that they
too would have liked to receive the Pope's blessing, if His Holiness would gra-
ciously respond to their hopes. The Pope consented, rang the bell and had the
two ushered in.
Don Bosco introduced Father Michael Rua, "Ah! You are Father Rua," the Pope
said. "You are the Vicar of the Congregation! Excellent! I hear that Don Bosco
brought you up ever since you were a boy. Go on, continue the work that has
been undertaken and keep within yourself the spirit of your founder."
"Oh yes, Holy Father," Father Rua replied, "we hope with your blessing to spend
ourselves to our dying breath for the Congregation, to which we consecrated
ourselves ever since we were only boys."
Don. Bosco then introduced Father Charles Viglietti as his secretary.
"What have you done with the secretary that was here with you last time?" the
Pope asked.
146
"He remained in Turin, Holy Father, to wind up some business I gave him to
do," Don Bosco said. "There is much that needs to be done, but I do not need
to urge my sons to work. I rather have to appeal to them to use moderation.
There are many of them who healthwise wear themselves out, who are not sat-
isfied with working by day, but toil also at night."
"Oh yes!" The Pope went on, "moderation is needed in everything, the body

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needs due rest so that it can be used to carry on the works that are to be car-
ried out for the greater glory of God."
"Holy Father, we are willing to obey you," Father Rua said, "but it was Don
Bosco himself who gave this kind of bad example in such things."
They all smiled. Then Father Rua asked, and was allowed to beg for a grace. He
explained to the Holy Father how the decree of the Holy Congregation of Rites
which prescribed examination of postulants for the Salesian Society by two or
three committees, was a serious obstacle to the development of the Pious Con-
gregation. He said that it would be much easier if, in compliance with conces-
sions granted by Pius IX, said examinations were entrusted to the particular
councils of each house, which in Turin would transmit their verdict for final
judgment to the Superior Council. The Pope answered that he duly appreciated
the reasons he had brought up. He added that an application should be submit-
ted in writing and the safest course would be to give it to Bishop Della Volpe,
who would see to it that it reached the Pope, who would be pleased to do all
the rest The dispensation from the observance of the decrees ruling on the
acceptance and admission to vows was then granted for a period of five years.'
With a generous blessing, he then bade Don Bosco go, with great gentleness,
and had someone accompany him as far as the stairs. As Don Bosco passed
them by, the Swiss Guards stiffened to attention. Don Bosco remarked, laugh-
ing, "I am not a king, you know! I am just a poor hunchbacked priest, good for
nothing at all. You can stand at ease." The soldiers then came over to him, rev-
erently kissing his hands.
THE RELICS FOR THE SACRED HEART ALTAR
While Don Bosco was at the Vatican, the relics, which were to be placed into
the altar stone of the main altar, had been sent from the vicariate to the
Church of the Sacred Heart. Hermetically closed and sealed, the case contained
a fragment of the cradle of the Infant Jesus, the relics of the Holy Apostles
Peter and Paul, Saint James, the martyr Saint Lawrence and of the Salesian
patron saint, Francis de Sales. They were put into a gilded urn and exposed in
the old chapel where, at nine o'clock in the evening, the hymn of martyrs was
sung, followed by the official rite in the stillness of the night.
147
Don Bosco had made an application to the Sacred Congregation of Rites for
certain spiritual favors, such as the privilege of celebrating the Mass of the
Sacred Heart during the first three days following the consecration, and the

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plenary indulgence to be granted in the usual way from the I4th to the 19th,
as well as a seven-year indulgence and an indulgence of 28 days (seven quar-
antines) every time anyone visited the church with at least a contrite heart.
THE CONSECRATION OF THE CHURCH
A Sacred Announcement, issued by the Cardinal Vicar on May 2nd, informed
the faithful of the imminent consecration, and also of the timetable for the
sacred services during the ensuing days. In it was stated that the church was a
"universal Shrine" since "the entire Catholic world" had contributed to it "with
its offerings." Hence it inferred: "That it should therefore be a reason of a holy
jubilation for all Catholics and especially for the Romans, to see that after ten
years of labor, obstacles, and immense difficulties, this grandiose construction
was finally completed as the vow of many pious souls devoted to the Sacred
Heart.
It is true, that there are still several altars and several decorations which re-
quire completion, but the constantly growing population of the new districts in
that area demanded that forthwith all that work be suspended which would
have enhanced the beauty and magnificence of the temple, but which was not
absolutely essential, mainly because it was essential to provide facilities to the
faithful in a more spacious church for the fulfillment of religious duties. If sev-
eral works will need completion, the good Roman population and all those who
seek the glory of God would find a new incentive to provide their donations so
that the sacred building might soon have all that is needed for worship and so
that it might not be all too unworthy of God who would establish His loving
presence in it."
In referring to the difficulties, this document issued by the Vicariate made
known a great truth. It had indeed been a period of seven years of untold
struggles, of heroic struggles indeed, if anyone means, as he should, Don
Bosco's struggles. As a matter of fact, any of the struggles which others may
have had sustained before he took over the task were mere straws in compari-
son. Our readers are well aware of this. Nor did the long-awaited day of May
14th put an end to all the struggles. Instead, it renewed the test of his pa-
tience up to the day he died and only to bequeath them to his successor.
149
Everything was well prepared both for the consecration rites as well as for the
solemn functions to be held the following days. Toward seven o'clock, the con-
secrating prelate, Cardinal Lucido Maria Parocchi, vicar of His Holiness and

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protector of the Salesian Congregation, emerged from the antechamber as on
all great occasions and was met by the superiors and many members of the
clergy, as well as by Salesians who had come from other houses, and by the
boys from Valdocco and their companions from the Roman hospice. In con-
formity with the ceremonial, the rite was performed behind closed doors. When
the doors were at last flung open to the faithful, some five hours had elapsed.
Don Bosco assisted, all recollected; several eminent people assisted with him.
At the end, Bishop Dominic Jacobini, archbishop of Tyre and secretary to the
Congregation of the Propagation of the Faith, approached the Servant of God
and offered him his arm to accompany him very slowly to his room, glad to
have been so fortunate as to render him such a service.
Father Francis Dalmazzo was the first priest to celebrate Mass at noon as the
new organ filled the temple with its harmony... Hundreds of people, the faithful
and the merely curious, entered the church…
After resting a while after the tiring ceremony, the Cardinal Vicar went upstairs
to see Don Bosco, whom he embraced affectionately and then remained to dine
with him and several other eminent guests. At the end of the repast the Saint
expressed his public thanks to the cardinal for all that he had done as Protec-
tor of the Salesians, with words of veneration and gratitude. Then he went on,
"Your Eminence, we have made a good start," and then he related with the ut-
most simplicity the story of the instant cure which had taken place the day
before. He then said that he had always used the same method, whenever peo-
ple, eager of obtaining graces, went up to him; namely, he suggested that they
give alms in honor of Jesus, Our Lady, or some Saint or other, as a means by
which they might obtain favors from God. He said that there was not a single
stone in the churches of Mary Help of Christians and Saint John the Evangelist
which was not signed by some grace received.
150
The cardinal also got up to address the assembly. He congratulated Don Bosco
for having opened the church even though work in it was not yet completed, for
this showed he wanted it to be given to the Sacred Heart of Jesus before it was
entrusted to embellishments and ornamentations by artists. He spoke very
kindly of the Salesian Congregation, saying that so far it had only procured
him happiness, and not one single trouble, pain or hardship. He said he would
be glad to take over the task of protector at the rate of one a day for any
such Congregations. Smiling, Don Bosco said, "Just wait, Eminence, just wait, the
day will come when we too will be a source of trouble for you."
"Well, here in the Church of the Sacred Heart you have a chapel that you wish

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to dedicate to Saint Francis de Sales, have you not? Is he not your patron?"
"Yes, Your Eminence."
"Good, I want to pay the costs of that altar, for I hope to obtain from the pro-
tector of the Congregation that you have in Heaven whatever assistance I may
need in the trials and tribulations reserved for the earthly protector of the Pi-
ous Society." This brilliant and generous statement was greeted with a rousing
applause.
The Oratory boys gave the first sample of their talent that evening when they
sang the Vespers, which Maestro Galli had composed especially for the occa-
sion. Bishop Julius Lenti, archbishop of Side, and vice regent in Rome officiated.
In the meantime, Don Bosco received many eminent callers among whom there
were bishops and cardinals.
The celebrations properly so-called lasted five days, and the congregation of
the pious faithful increased constantly. Each morning a cardinal celebrated a
Low Mass, and there was also a Solemn Pontifical Mass. Every afternoon there
was a Salesian conference in various languages, then Vespers with music and
sermon.
Sunday, the first day, was extremely solemn. The German cardinal, Bishop
Melchers, celebrated Mass at seven o'clock. At ten o'clock Bishop Jacobini pon-
tificated, assisted by a bishop from the United States of America. The boys
from Turin sang Cherubini's Mass incomparably well. This Mass is known as the
Coronation Mass.
Meanwhile, Don Bosco granted continuous audiences, receiving also three bish-
ops and the cardinal of Canossa.
At dinner Bishop Kirby sat at his right hand, Prince Czartoryski on his left. The
Prince was spending most of the day within the house. There were also many
other guests who shared at the family dinner. At the proper time Father Rua
asked Don Bosco to kindly say a few words. Don Bosco rose to his feet painfully
and leaning heavily on the table with both hands, he said with halting voice, "I
drink to the dear memory of our great friend, the Rev. Margotti, who died re-
cently. To him, the champion of the sacred rights of the Church, to him who
always loved us, who came to see us so affectionately before we left for Rome,
putting his renowned newspaper at our service for reports on the festivities,
which we now celebrate. I drink this with a firm conviction that my zealous
Cooperators will be so gracious as to help us complete the hospice of the Sa-
cred Heart so that we can offer shelter, education and training to five hundred
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children of the working classes, bringing them up in the holy fear of God so
that they in their turn may bear fruit for their own benefit and that of society. I
drink to Bishop Kirby, to whom I am bound by an undying friendship." Bishop
Kirby answered on behalf of all the Cooperators saying that he and his friends
treasured what Don Bosco had said as a toast. He assured him that he and his
friends would do everything in their power to abide faithfully by his inspired will
so that the hospice might be completed as he desired. At three-thirty, Bishop
Charles Murray of Lyons, auditor of the Sacred Rota for France, had a lecture
in French in which he stressed the timeliness of Don Bosco's institute on behalf
of poor and abandoned youth and the consoling results already obtained.' At
five o'clock, the eloquent Bishop Omedei Zorini, an apostolic missionary, deliv-
ered a sermon on the Sacred Heart. After this, the Valdocco choir sang
Aldega's Vespers. In the evening, the facade of the Church, the bell tower, and
the hospice were brilliantly illuminated after a very elegant design elaborated by
a Salesian cleric. This brought people in vast crowds from the furthermost dis-
tricts of the town to Castro Pretorio for some hours.
The Mass with general Communion on the second day of the celebration was
said by Cardinal Placido Schiaffino of the Priests of Mount Olive.
THE LAST MASS AT THE ALTAR
OF MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS
152
That morning Don Bosco chose to go down to the church to say Mass at the
altar of Mary Help of Christians. No less than fifteen times after he had started
the Holy Sacrifice Don Bosco had to stop, overcome by powerful emotion, which
caused him to shed tears. From time to time, Father Charles Viglietti, who was
assisting him, had to divert his attention so that he could continue. As he was
leaving the altar, the congregation was overcome by great tenderness and
gathered around him, kissing his vestments and his hands now freed of the
chalice, and even followed him into the sacristy where they all voiced their de-
sire to be blessed. "Yes, yes," he answered. He climbed the three steps which
led from the first sacristy into the second, he turned around, he raised his right
hand, but suddenly he burst into tears, covering his face with both hands. "I
bless...I bless..." he repeated again and again, his voice stifled, unable to finish
his sentence. It was necessary to take him gently by the arm and lead him
away. The people were deeply impressed and moved on to follow him, but the
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Who is there that would not like to know the cause of such emotion? When
Father Viglietti realized he had regained his usual calm, he asked him what had
happened and was told, "There appeared before my eyes the scene when at the
age of ten I dreamt about the Congregation. I could actually see and hear my
mother and brothers, as they argued about the dream." At that time Our Lady
had said, "In due time you will understand everything." Since that day, sixty-two
years of hardships, sacrifices, and struggles have passed by. All of a sudden, an
unexpected flash of lightning, had revealed to him in the building of the Church
of the Sacred Heart in Rome, the crowning point of the mission so mysteriously
outlined for him on the very threshold of life... How long and arduous had been
the path all the way from Becchi at Castelnuovo to the See of the Vicar of
Jesus Christ! He felt at that point that his own personal activity was drawing to
a close, and he blessed the Divine Providence with tears in his eyes, as he lifted
his gaze confidently to his imminent rest in the eternal peace within God's bos-
om.
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Letter from Rome
10th may 1884
My most beloved children in Jesus Christ:
I am always thinking of you, whether I am near you or far away. I have only one
wish and that is to see you happy in this world and eternity. It was this thought, this
desire, that induced me to write you this letter. My dear boys, I feel the weight of being
away from you and not seeing you, not hearing you, causes such a pain for me that you
can hardly imagine. That was why I would have liked to write you this letter a week
ago, but all the things I had to do prevented me. Nevertheless, although there are now
only a few days left before my return home, I want to anticipate my return among you at
least by means of a letter, not being able to do it in person. It is one who loves you ten-
derly in Jesus Christ who writes to you, and it is his duty to speak to you with the li-
berty of a father. You will allow me to do this, will you not? And you will be attentive
and will put into practice what I am now about to tell you.
I have told you that you are the one and constant thought of my mind. On one of
these past evenings, I had gone to my room, and while I was getting ready for bed, I had
begun to say the prayers that my dear mother had taught me. Just then, I do not know
whether sleep overcame me or whether something distracted me, but it suddenly seemed
that two former boys from the Oratory appeared before me… One of them came up to
me, greeted me affectionately and said,
"Oh, Don Bosco! Do you recognize me?"
"Yes, I recognize you," I answered...
"Do you still remember me?" the other asked.
155
"I remember you and all the others. You are Valfre and you attended the Oratory
prior to 1870."
"Listen," he said then, "would you like to see the boys who were at the Oratory in
my day?"

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"Of course! Show them to me," I said. "I would be delighted." So Valfre
showed me the boys and they all looked the same. They were the same height and
age as I had known them then. I thought I was in the old Oratory at recreation
time. It was a picture full of life, full of movement and merriment. Boys were run-
ning, skipping and jumping. Some were playing leapfrog and others were playing
ball. In one corner, there was a cluster of boys avidly listening to a priest, who was
telling a story. In another corner, a cleric was playing flying donkey and trades with
another cluster of boys. People were singing and laughing everywhere and there were
clerics and priests with cheerful boys gathered around them. It was obvious that the
utmost cordiality and familiarity existed between the boys and their superiors.
I was mesmerized by that spectacle, and Valfre said to me, "You see, fami-
liarity breeds affection, and affection breeds confidence. This is what opens up their
hearts and the boys reveal everything to their teachers, assistants and superiors.
They are frank in their confession and outside of it, and docile and obedient to
anything they are told to do by someone they know is honestly fond of them.
Just then, the other former pupil, who now had a white beard, came up to me
and said, "Don Bosco, would you now like to see and know the boys who live at
the Oratory today?" This was Joseph Buzzetti.
"Yes," I answered. "It is already a month since I saw them last."
He pointed them out to me. I saw the Oratory and all of you at recreation, but
I no longer heard the shouts of joy, singing or the lively animation that I had just
seen before.
Sadly, boredom, weariness, sullenness, and diffidence were evident on the boys'
faces and in their actions. It is true that I saw a good many of them running and
playing, but I also saw a good many more who were standing alone and leaning
against the pillars, prey to disquieting thoughts.
156
Other boys had withdrawn from the general recreation to sit on the stairs, the
corridors or on the balconies overlooking the garden. Others strolled slowly in
groups, talking softly among themselves, casting suspicious or malicious glances
around them... Here and there, someone smiled, but such smiles were accompanied
by glances that not only aroused suspicion, but also the conviction that had St.
Aloysius been in the company of those boys, he would have blushed. Even among
the boys who were playing, I saw a few so listless that it was obvious that they
found no pleasure in their games.
"Have you seen your boys?" the past pupil asked.

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"Yes, I have seen them," I answered with a sigh.
"How different they are today from what we were!" the former pupil exclaimed.
"Unfortunately! How listless they are at recreation!"
"This causes the indifference that many show when they receive the Holy Sacra-
ments. They are careless in their practices of piety in church and elsewhere, and that is
why they are reluctant to live in an environment where Divine Providence showers all
its bounty on their bodies, souls and intellects. That is why many of them do not follow
their vocation and are ungrateful to their superiors, and that is why they grow secretive
and complain while other deplorable things occur as a consequence."
"I see, I see." I said. "But how can I restore the former vivacity,
cheerfulness and expansiveness of these dear children of mine?" "With charity!"
"With charity?" I asked. "But are not my boys loved enough? You know that I
love them. You know how much I have suffered and endured for them during the course
of some forty years, and all that I am still suffering and enduring now! All the priva-
tions, humiliations, oppositions and persecution I have endured in order to provide
them with food, shelter, teachers and especially in order to ensure the salvation of their
souls! I have done all I could and all I know for them, who represent the love of my
whole life."
"I am not referring to you."
"Then to whom do you refer? To those who took my place? To the directors, pre-
fects, teachers and assistants? Don't you see how they spend the youthful years of their
lives caring for those entrusted to them by Divine Providence? Don't you see that they
are martyrs of their work and study?"
"I see it and I am aware of it, but that is not enough. The best is still missing."
"What is it that is missing?"
"The boys must not only be loved, but they must know that they are loved."
"Don't they realize that everything that is done for them is done out of love?"
157
"No, and I repeat, it is not enough."
"So what then is needed?" I implored.
"That they be helped to understand and love the things that are not so agreeable to
them, by participation in their childish pleasures. The things that are disagreeable to

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them are discipline, study, and self-mortification. They must learn these things with
love and enthusiasm."
"Please explain yourself more clearly!"
"Watch the boys at recreation."
I watched them and then said, "What special thing is there to see?"
"You do not see it, even though you have been educating boys for all these years?
Look again! Where are our Salesians?"
I looked and saw that there were only a. few priests and clerics mingled with the
boys, while even fewer participated in their games. The superiors were no longer the
animating spirit at recreation. For the most part, they strolled up and down, tal-
king among themselves, without paying any attention to what the boys were doing.
Occasionally, someone did observe some wrongdoings, but they did nothing to correct
the behavior. There were some Salesians who would have liked to mingle with the
boys in their groups, but I saw that some of these youngsters were studiously trying
to get away from their teachers and superiors.
"Were you not always in the midst of the boys at the Oratory in the old days,
especially at recreation time?" my friend asked. "Do you remember those wonderful
years? It was a thing for rejoicing, like Heaven, a period upon which we shall
always look back lovingly, for we were guided by affection and held no secrets from
you."
"Certainly! Everything was delightful then for me as well, and the boys were all
eager to come and talk to me. They were always eager for my advice, so that they
could put it into practice. But now I see that continuous audiences with others, in-
creased business matters and my health prevent me from doing all this."
"That is all very true, but if you are unable, why are the Salesians not imita-
ting you? Why do you not insist and demand that the Salesians behave toward the
boys the same way as you did?"
158
"I talk myself hoarse, but unfortunately, they do not feel like shouldering the
burdens as we once did."
"So by neglecting to do what costs them least, they lose what is most important,
and waste all their efforts thereby. They must learn to love what the boys love, so
that the boys may love that which is dear to their superiors. In this way, their ef-
forts will be light. The cause of the present change in the ways of the Oratory lies in

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the number of boys who do not confide in their superiors. Once their hearts were like an
open book before their superiors, and they loved them and obeyed them promptly. But
now they look on the superiors precisely as superiors, no longer as fathers, brothers and
friends. Therefore, they fear them and love them little. If there is to be but one heart
and soul, then for the love of Jesus, this fatal barrier of diffidence must be broken so
heartfelt trust can take its place."
"What must be done to break down this barrier?" I asked.
"It is imperative to achieve familiarity with the boys, especially at recreation time.
Without familiarity, affection cannot be shown and without affection, there cannot be
confidence. He who wants to be loved has to show that he loves. Jesus Christ became
little with the little ones and shouldered our own infirmities.
There we have the master of familiarity. A teacher who is seen only at the teacher's
desk is only a teacher and no more, but if he joins the boys at recreation, he becomes a
brother.
"If one is seen only when he preaches from the pulpit, we shall only say of him that
he is doing his duty, but should he utter a word or two during recreation time, his will
be regarded as the word of someone who loves. How many conversions were brought
about by such words whispered unexpectedly into the ear of a boy at play! Those who
know they are loved give love in return, and those who are beloved, especially by chil-
dren, will obtain everything. Such a feeling of confidential trust is like an electric cu-
rrent between the boys and their superiors! They lay bare their hearts and make their
needs known and reveal their faults. A love like this will enable the superiors to endure
fatigue, displeasures, ingratitude, annoyance, shortcomings and neglect on the part of the
boys...
"Jesus Christ did not snap the reed already bent, nor did He extinguish the smol-
dering wick. That's your model! Then you'll have no chance to see people who work for
vanity, who will punish only to take revenge on their offended pride or who leave their
assistance assignment out of jealousy for the overpowering ability of others. There will
be no one who knocks down others in order to be loved and esteemed by the boys. Then
you will not see anyone who favors one child and neglects all the other boys, someone
159
who neglects his very serious duty to assist out of love of his personal comfort.
"If there is really true love, nothing but the love of God will be sought after and the
salvation of souls. When this kind of love wanes, then things will begin to go wrong.
"Why should charity be substituted by the coldness of a rule? Why is it that the
superiors abandon the observance of those educational rules dictated to them by Don

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Bosco himself? Why is it that the system of preventing transgressions with vigilance
and love is slowly being replaced with one of less worth? If neglected, these laws will
breed contempt for the superiors and will be the cause of very serious shortcomings.
"And this does happen if familiarity is missing. If the Oratory is to return to
its former happiness, the former system must come back. The superior should be
always ready to listen to any doubts or complaints with all eyes to supervise their
behavior and all heart to look for the temporal and spiritual good of those entrusted
to him by Divine Providence. Then the boys will no longer barricade their hearts.
Only in cases of immoral demeanor are the superiors to be inexorable. It is better to
run the risk of expelling an innocent boy than to risk retaining one that will cause
a problem. The assistants must look at it as their duty to report to their superiors
anything that may in any way be offensive in the eyes of God that is brought to
their attention."
Then I asked, "What is the best thing to do to make sure that a family spirit,
love and trust emerge triumphant?"
"Strict observance of the house rules."
"Nothing more?"
"The most appetizing course in any meal is a good cheer."
As my former pupil finished speaking on this note, I continued watching the
recreation with real displeasure, and little by little I was overcome by increasing
fatigue. Such weariness overcame me that I could no longer endure it, so I shook
myself and returned to my senses.
I found myself standing at the foot of the bed. My legs were so swollen and pain-
ful that I could no longer stand upright. It was very late, so I went to bed, determi-
ned that I would write all this to my beloved children.
I do not want to have such dreams because they tire me excessively.
The next day, I felt myself aching all over and could not wait to get to bed that
160
next evening. But as soon as I was in bed, the dream started all over again. I saw
the playground, the boys who are now in the Oratory, and the same former pupil.
"I will tell the Salesians what you told me, but what am I to tell the boys at the
Oratory?" I asked him.
He answered, "That they must appreciate all that their superiors, teachers and
assistants are tirelessly doing out of love for them, for if it were not for their welfare,

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they would not shoulder such sacrifices. Tell them they must learn how to endure the
faults of others, for perfection is not of this world and is found only in Paradise. They
must desist from complaining because this makes the heart grow cold. Above all, that
they must strive to live in the holy grace of God. He who is not at peace with God will
not find peace within himself or with others."
"Do you mean to say that among the boys there are some who are not at peace with
God?"
"This is the primary cause of the malaise of which you are now aware, and which
must be remedied. There is no need for me to specify such causes now. A person who
has secrets to safeguard and who fears that his secrets will be discovered is the one who
is distrustful. At the same time, the heart that is not at peace with God is full of an-
guish and is restless, intolerant of obedience, irritated over nothing and feels that
everything is going wrong. And since he has no love, he feels that the superiors do not
love him."
"Yet, my friend, do you not see how often boys go to confession and communion here
at the Oratory?"
"It is true that they go frequently to confession, but the thing that is radically wrong
in the case of many of the boys is that they lack steadfast resolution when they go to
confession. They do confess, but confess always the same faults, temptations, bad habits,
acts of disobedience and neglect of their duties. They go on this way for months and
months, even years, sometimes right through their fifth year of high school. Such confes-
sions count for little or nothing at all. They, therefore, bring no peace of mind, and if a
boy is summoned before the judgment of God in such a state of mind, it would fare
badly for him.
"Are there many such boys at the Oratory?" I asked.
"There are only a few in comparison with the great many boys living in the house,"
he answered as he pointed them out to me.
I looked around and saw these boys, but in those few, I saw things that grieved my
heart sorely. I do not want to commit them to paper, but when I return, I shall confer
161
with those concerned.
At this time, I will only say that it is now time to pray and make steadfast resolu-
tions not only with words, but in deeds, and to show that the Comollos, the Dominic
Savios, the Besuccos and the Saccandis still live amongst us in spirit.
Finally, I asked my friend, "Have you anything else to tell me?"

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"Tell all of them, old and young alike, to remember always that they are the
children of Mary Help of Christians. They should remember that she brought them
here to rescue them from the dangers of the world, so that they might love one anot-
her like brothers. They should give glory to God and to her with their good conduct.
They must remember that it is our Lady who provides them with food and with the
possibility of studying, together with countless graces and miracles. They must re-
member that it is now the vigil of the feast of this most holy mother of theirs, and
with her assistance, the barrier of diffidence that the devil has been able to erect
between the boys and their superiors to bring about the ruin of souls must come
down."
"Are we going to succeed in removing this barrier?"
"Most certainly, provided that old and young alike are willing to endure a few
minor mortification for the love of Mary and put into practice all that I have been
saying."
Meanwhile, I continued watching the boys and saw how some of them were hea-
ding for eternal damnation, and I felt so sharp a pain in my heart that I woke up.
I saw many important things that I would like to tell you, but this is neither the
place nor do I now have the time for it.
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After all this, do you know what this poor old man, who has consumed his
whole life for his beloved boys, wants from you all? Nothing more than the return of
the happy days of the old Oratory when love and Christian trust between the boys
and their superiors and the spirit of harmony and mutual endurance for the love of
Jesus Christ prevailed. I need you to comfort me with the hope and the promise that
you will do everything I wish for the benefit of your own souls. You do not realize
how lucky you have been to live at the Oratory. I declare to you before God that a
boy who enters a Salesian house will be immediately taken under the special protec-
tion of the Most Holy Virgin. So let us all work in harmony. The charity of those
who command and must obey should ensure that the spirit of St. Francis of Sales
reigns among us. Oh, my beloved children, the time is drawing near when I shall
have to leave you for eternity. [Note by his secretary: here Don Bosco stopped his
dictation, his eyes filled with tears, not out of regret, but out of the infinite tender-
ness that was evidenced by his glance and the tone of his voice.] therefore, am most
anxious to leave you, my priests, clerics and most beloved children, on the road of
God on which our Lord Himself wishes you to walk.
To this same end, the Holy Father (whom I saw on Friday, May 9th) sends
you his sincerest blessing. I shall be with you in front of the picture of our loving

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Mother Mary Help of Christians on her feast day. I want this magnificent feast to be
celebrated with the greatest solemnity, and I want Father Lazzero and Father Marchi-
sio to make sure that you are cheerful, even in the dining room. This feast of Mary
Help of Christians should be the prelude to the eternal feast we shall enjoy one day
together in Paradise.
Most affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Rev. John Bosco
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SOURCES
On the subject of Don Bosco's stays in Rome it is possible to make use of these
searches:
1. “DON BOSCO A ROMA” di don Fabio Bianchini - pro manuscripto - 1988
The text was composed on the occasion of the centenary of Don Bosco's death.
The structure of the current text and the major topographical indications are drawn
from it.
2. "I SOGGIORNI DEL BEATO DON BOSCO IN ROMA". by Sac. Salvatore Romolo -
Ed. SEI - Turin - 1929 - Salesian Printing School.
The volume, in 407 pages, chronologically retraces each of the 20 trips that Don
Bosco made in the capital, with the addition of an appendix.
It is a tribute to Don Bosco in the year of his beatification. It remains to this day
the most comprehensive and fully documented study.
3. SPECIAL ISSUE OF THE BOLLETTINO SALESIANO
Supplement of October '99, entitled "DON BOSCO RACCONTA" - The journey to
Rome in 1858.
164 Fr Giancarlo Manieri and Fr Francesco Motto focus on the first stay, certainly the
richest in information about Don Bosco's 'curiosity' in discovering every corner of
the city.
A 47-page dossier, enriched with many photos of "vanished Rome", the article
aimed at accompanying the pilgrims who came to Rome for the Jubilee of the year
2000, to the places visited by Don Bosco himself.

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4. DON BOSCO A ROMA by Antonio Sperduti – Venti viaggi nellattà eterna - Inter-
nal edition by by the ‘Casa per ferie’ of the Hospice of the Sacred Heart,
This 67-page booklet, illustrated with period photos, briefly lists each of Don
Bosco's 20 trips to Rome, highlighting the dominant feature in each. It concludes
with an overview of his life.
5. UN PIEMONTESE A ROMA edited by Michele Novelli based on research by Fabio
Bianchini's 'Don Bosco a Roma' and on the documentaof the Biographical Memoirs.
The work, commissioned by the Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi, is part of the initia-
tives for the Bicentenary of Don Bosco's birth.
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Summary
INTRODUCTION
7
1. WHERE DON BOSCO STAYED IN ROME
1.1. Casa De Maistre
12
1.2. Palazzo Vimercati
15
1.3. Casa Colonna
19
1.4. Casa Sigismondi
21
1.5. Monastery at Tor de’ Specchi
26
2. THE SAINT’S MOST VISITED AND DEAREST PLACES
2.1. The Vatican
38
2.2. The Catacombs of St. Callistus
68
2.3. Santa Maria sopra Minerva
72
2.4. Santa Maria in Cosmedin
75
2.5. Santa Maria del Popolo
80
3. POTENTIAL SALESIAN HOUSES IN ROME
3.1. St. Michael’s Hospice at Ripa
86
3.2. Tata Giovanni Hospice
95
3.3. Vigna Pia Agricultural Estate
100

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3.4. Church of the Holy SHroud
105
3.5. Church of San Giovanni della Pigna
112
3.6. Sacred Heart Basilica and Hospice
118

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Whether before the unification of Italy or after it,
even when Rome was proclaimed ‘Capital’ of the
Kingdom, Don
and his unconditional love for
the Pope came to Rome on 20 occasions,
spending a total of 2 years there in all, amidst
mistrust from the ecclesiastical authorities, a
warm welcome from both Pius IX and Leo XIII and
the devoted admiration of the Roman people