A CONVERSATlON WlTH FRANCIS BODRATO

Translated From The Critical Edition of Antonio Ferreira da Silva by Patrick Laws, SDB

INTRODUCTION

The Italian text is found in Braido, P. Giovanni Bosco: Scritti Spirituali & Pedagogici Rome, LAS, 1987, pp 98-100.

One of the more famous of Don Bosco's "autumn walks", that of 1864, called also at Mornese, the home town of Mary Mazzarello. In fact, this was the occasion of the first meeting between Bosco and Mazzarello.

Born in 1823, the son of a grocer, he gave up his schooling to become a shoemaker. He married, and had two sons. After the death of his wife he opened a cafe. Fr Pestarino thought a great deal of him, and sent him off to a normal school, from which he graduated in 1858, taking over the public school at Mornese.

Following his meeting with Don Bosco, he decided to become a Salesian, and was ordained in 1869. In 1876, he led the second missionary expedition to Argentina. By 1878 he was Provincial of the "American Province". He died in 1880.

We do not know the author of the text translated here, except that he can establish some links with a biography written after Bodrato's death by the Salesian [Count] Carlo Cays.

The charming background to this conversation, is that Bodrato had offered hospitality to Don Bosco and his boys as was the custom wherever they went. Serving at table, he was impressed - being himself a teacher - with the easy relationship between Don Bosco and the boys. What followed is the substance of our text.TEXT

Not satisfied with just admiring, Bodrato wanted to know more, and to this end asked Don Bosco for a personal interview, which was granted him that same night. He asked [Don Bosco] what secret he possessed to be able to have the mastery he did over so many boys, so that they became so obedient, respectful and docile, such that more could not be asked of them.

Don Bosco made short work of the answer: "Reason and Religion are the mainsprings of my whole system of education.

"The educator should be convinced that all, or nearly all, of these fine young people are intelligent by nature, and can recognise the good done to them personally, and at the same time they are gifted with a good heart which is readily open to gratitude.

"When, with God's help, one succeeds in inculcating into their souls the principal mysteries of our religion, which being all love, makes us think of the immense love God has for mankind. When you succeed in touching the strings of gratitude in their hearts, how much we owe Him because of what He has so generously done for us. When, with the force of reason they have become convinced that real gratitude to the Lord should be expressed by doing His will, by respecting His precepts, especially those that require the doing of our duty to one another, believe you me, the greater part of our work of education is already done!

"Religion in this system is like the bit in the mouth of a fiery steed, which dominates and rules it: reason then is like the bridle which, pulling on the bit gives you the results you seek. True religion, genuine religion, which can control the actions of the young; reason which correctly applies those holy precepts as a guide for all his actions: there you are, summarised in two words the system I use, and which you wish to know the secret."

When Don Bosco finished speaking, Bodrato took up in reply, "Your Reverence, using that image of the bit which controls the young colts, you spoke to me of the moderating force of religion, and the good use of reason in directing all their actions. This is very good, but it seems to me that you have said nothing about a third means always used by horsebreakers, I mean he is never without his whip, which is the third element of his success".

To this remark of Bodrato Don Bosco replied, "My dear sir, allow me to say to you that in my system the whip, which you say can't be done without, that is, the salutary threat of future punishment, is not excluded in all absolute sense. Just recall that many and terrible are the punishments that religion threatens for those who, paying no heed to the Lord's precepts, dare to despise his commands: severe and terrible threats, which frequently recalled, will not fail to produce their effect, all the more so when we don't limit ourselves to emphasising external actions, but we strike at their most secret ones, and their most hidden thoughts. In order to make the conviction of this truth penetrate even more deeply, one includes also the sincere practice of the faith, attendance at the Sacraments and the persistence of the educator, and one is certain that with the help of the Lord, one will have much more chance of making good Christians of very many, even of the most difficult boys.

"In any case, when the young come to be convinced that those in charge of them truly want to do good to them, more often that not it will serve as sufficient punishment to be a little withdrawn, to show the displeasure you experience at getting so little return for your fatherly care.

"Believe me, dear Sir that this system is perhaps easier, and certainly more effective because with its background of religious practice, it will also be blessed by God. To give you proof you can see for yourself, I am moved to invite you to come for a few days to see its practical application in our houses. Come at any time to spend a few days with us, and I hope that at the end of the experiment you can assure me that what I have said to you is verifiably the most functional and the surest system."

This invitation, made partly jokingly and partly seriously, made an impression on our Bodrato. He thanked Don Bosco, saying he would give a firm reply later, but bearing in his heart the thought that he would take it up later with good results.