8 May 1864

Someone led me to a place where there was a beautiful road all covered in roses, not only on the ground, but also above like an arch, and all around there were roses but so beautiful that I had never seen anything like them. The person told me to walk. I did not want to trample on those beautiful roses so I took off my shoes. But I took a step or two and then, ouch, I soon had to step back because I trod on a thorn which gave me terrible pain, and I saw that under these beautiful roses there were many prickly thorns, not just underneath but everywhere. So I said: “We need shoes here”; and the other person, looking at me replied: “You certainly do need shoes”. So I put them back on. There was a great number of priests and other people with me who walked beside me. I began walking; despite all my concerns, occasionally getting pricked by one or other of those huge thorns, I nevertheless got to the end of the avenue. Then I looked back and I saw not one of my many walking companions. I was very upset and I immediately turned back to see what they were doing or where they were, but I saw no one. I began to weep copiously and was saying: “Is it possible that they all have abandoned me and that I have to be alone on this road?”.

But while I was there complaining and weeping I saw a huge crowd of priests and clerics and others coming towards me. And when they reached me they said: “Here we are ready to follow you; tell us what to do and we will obey”. I was consoled and I told them: “Well then, if you are ready to struggle along this road with me, let's begin walking”; and they all took to the road and I followed behind. A few lost courage and turned back. A great number were happy and courageous and reached the end. I did so too.

In front of us was a huge and magnificent hall where there were other beautiful roses, and I looked; they were all without thorns and gave off such a sweet perfume.

Then the person who was accompanying me spoke to me saying: “Have you understood all this?”. “No”, I told him “Could you please explain it all to me”. So he said: “Know then that this road stands for the care that you must take of young people. You need to walk along this road with shoes on, meaning mortification. The beautiful roses are symbols of burning charity that has to distinguish you and your helpers in educating young people. The thorns stand for all the obstacles, sufferings, annoyances you have to put up with in this task. But do not lose courage: with charity and mortification you will win out. At the end you will find roses without thorns, as you saw in that rich hall you arrived at”. And then I found myself in my room of course, awake like I am now.

28 September 1876

They say we should take no notice of dreams; and I must tell you truthfully that in most cases I am also of this opinion. However sometimes, though not telling us about the future they serve just to same in letting us know how to resolve intricate affairs and in showing us how to proceed prudently in certain matters. So they can be taken for what is good in them. Right now I would like to tell you about a dream that has preoccupied me throughout this retreat and tormented me especially last night. I wil tell it to you as it happened only shortening things a bit here and there so as not to be too long, because it seems to me that it was full of many and serious lessons.

[Part I] - It seemed to me that we were all together, going from Lanzo to Turin. We were all in some kind of vehicle, but I couldn't say if we were on a train or an omibus, but we weren't walking. When we got to a certain point along the road, I don't recall where, the vehicle stopped. I got off to see what was wrong and found myself face to face with someone whom I cannot really describe: he looked both tall and short at the same time, fat and thin, and he also looked red and white; he walked on the ground but also in the air. I was dumbfounded and could make no sense of it, but plucked up courage and asked: “Who are you?”. Without giving me an answer he said: “Come”. I wanted to know who he was first of all, what he wanted, but again he said: “Come quickly; let's get the vehicles moving into this field”.

The marvel was that he spoke loudly and softly at the same time and in many voices, and I was just left marvelling at it all. The field was very big, as far as you could see, all flat, not dug up but all flattened down like a farmyard. Not knowing what to say, and seeing him so resolute, we turned the vehicles around so that they entered that huge field and then we shouted out to everyone inside to get off. They all got off in very quick time and has soon as they had, the vehicles were seen to vanish, without our knowing where they had gone to.

— “Now that we have got down”, I whispered to myself, “you will ask why you made us stop in this place”. He answered: “The reason is serious; it is to avoid a terrible danger”.

“Which danger?”.

“Danger from a wild bull that will leave no one alive if he comes through: Taurus rugiens quaerens quem devoret”.³

“Slow down, my friend, you are attributing to the bull what St Peter says about the bull in Holy Scripture: Leo rugiens”.⁴

“That doesn't matter: there it was leo rugiens, here it is taurus rugiens”.

“The fact is that you have to be very much on the alert. Call everyone to come around you. Then solemnly and urgently announce that they be careful, very careful, and as soon as they hear the bull bellowing, A loud and extraordinary bellowing, to immediately throw themselves on the ground and stay face down, faces pressed to the ground, until the bull has passed through. Woe to the one who does not listen to you, for whoever does not lie flat on the ground face down as I have said will be lost, because we read in the Holy Scriptures that the one who is humble will be exalted and the one who exalts himself will be humbled: Qui se humiliat exaltabitur et qui se exaltat humuliabitur”.⁵

Then he said once more: “Quickly, quickly: the bull is about to come; shout, shout out laoudly for them to get down”.

I was shouting and he was saying: “More, more, louder, shout, shout”. I was shouting so loud that I think I even frightened Fr Lemoyne who sleeps in the room next to me, but I couldn't shout any louder.

Then immediately we heard the bellowing of the bull: “Careful, careful!... Line them all up straight next to each on both sides, with a space in the middle for the bull to run through”.

I'm shouting and giving these orders; in the blink of an eyelid they are all prostrate on the ground and we began to say the bull coming from way off, enraged.

Although most were lying face down, some wanted to stand up and watch the bull to see what it was and they were not lying down. Just a few of them. The individual said to me: “Now you will see what happens to them; you will see what they get for not lowering themselves”. I wanted to warn them again, shout at them, run to them. The other would not let me. I insisted that he let me go to them. He told me firmly: “Obedience is for you too, get down”. I was still not lying down when we heard this tremendous, fearful bellowing. The bull was already close to us; we were all shaking and asking: “What the... what the…”. “Don't be afraid: down on the ground!”. And he kept shouting: “Qui se humiliat exaltabitur et qui se exaltat humiliabitur… qui se humiliat… qui se humiliat”.

A strange thing that really made me wonder was this, that although my head was on the ground and I was completely prostrate with my eyes in the dust, nevertheless I could see everything that was happening around me very well. The bull had seven horns, almost in the shape of a circle: there were two in place of his nose; two in place of his eyes; two where the horns would ordinarily be and one above; but the marvellous thing was that these horns were so strong, flexible, bending in whichever direction, so that to strike or knock someone to the ground the bull didn't have to run here or there; it just need to move ahead without twisting and turning itself, to strike whoever it encountered. The horns at the nose were the longest and these caused surprising damage.

The bull was already very close; then the individual shouted: “watch the effect of humility”. And then suddenly, what a marvel it was! We all found ourselves lifted up in the air to a considerable height so it was impossible for the bull to reach us. The handful who had not got down were not lifted up. The bull came and tore them to pieces in an instant; not one was saved. We meanwhile, lifted up in the air, were terrified and said: “If we fall down we're done for; poor us! What will become of us!”. Meanwhile we could see the enraged bull trying to get to us. He was leaping up terribly trying to gore us, but he was not able to do any damage to us. So more enraged than ever, he made it clear he wanted to go and find some fellow bulls; almost as if he were saying: well, we'll help each other, we will climb up… and so habens iram magnam,⁶ he went off.

Then we found ourselves back on the ground and the person was shouting: “Face the south”. Then, without our understanding what was going on, the scene in front of us changed. Facing south we saw the Blessed Sacrament exposed: there were many candles lit on both sides and the field was no longer there, but we seemed to be in a huge, ornately decorated church. While we were all there in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, many enraged bulls arrived, all with horrible horns and terribly frightening in appearance. They came, but since we were in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, they could do no harm to us. Meanwhile we were saying the chaplet to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. After a while, I don't know how long, we looked and the bulls were no longer there. Looking back towards the altar we found that the candles were extinguished, the Sacrament no longer exposed, the church had gone... “But where are we?”. We found ourselves in the field where we had first been.

You understand well enough that the bull is the enemy of our souls, the devil that is so enraged with us and constantly seeks to do us harm. The seven horns are the seven capital vices. What can free us from this bull's horns, from the devil's assaults, from not falling to vice, is principally humility, basis and foundation of the virtues.

[Part 2] - Meanwhile we were dumbfounded, amazed, looking at one another. No one was speaking, no one knew what to say. They were waiting for Don Bosco to speak or for that individual to tell us something when, taking me aside, he said: “Come, I want you to see the triumph of the Congregation of St Francis de Sales. Climb up on this rock and you will see”. It was a huge boulder in the middle of the boundless field so I climbed up on it. What an immense view confronted me! The field, that I could never have believed could be so large, looked to me as if it covered the entire earth. People of every colour, dress, nation were gathered there. I saw so many people that I did not know if the world could have that many. I began by looking at the ones in front as I looked at them: they were dressed like us Italians. I knew the ones in the front rows and there were so many Salesians there who were leading groups of boys and girls by the hand. Then there were others with other groups; then still more and more that I no longer knew and could not make out, but there was an indescribable number of them. Towards the south there were Sicilians, Africans and an endless crowd of people I didn't know. They were all being led by Salesians; those in the front rows I knew and then no more.

“Note”, the person said to me. Then an endless crowd of other people appeared before me, dressed differently from us. They wore skins, kinds of mantles that looked almost like velvet, all in different colours. I turned to the four points of the compass. Amongst other things, to the east I saw women with feet so tiny that they struggled to remain standing and almost could not walk. What stood out was that everywhere I saw Salesians leading groups of boys and girls and with them a huge crowd of people. I always knew the ones in the first rows, then going on further, no longer, not even the missionaries. There are many things here that I cannot tell you at length because it would take too long.

Then the one who had led me and advised me up to this point about what I had to do, spoke again and said: “Look, Don Bosco; for now you will not understand everything I say, but pay attention: everything you have seen is all the harvest prepared for the Salesians. See how huge this harvest is! This huge field you find yourself in is the field in which the Salesians must work. The Salesians you see are the workers in the Lord's vineyard. many are working and you know them. The horizon then broadened before your eyes with people that you do not yet know, and this means that not only in this century, but in the next and in future centuries the Salesians will work in their field. But do you know on what condition what you see will happen? I will tell you: look, you need to print the Rule and on the first page, in large letters, remember, print the words that will be your coat of arms, your rallying cry, your badge. Note well: Work and temperance will see the Salesian Congregation flourish. You will explain these words; repeat them, insist on them. You will have a handbook printed that explains them and makes it well understood that work and temperance are the legacy you leave the Congregation and at the same time will also be its glory”.

I replied: “I will do this willingly enough; all this is according to our purpose and what I am already recommending every day and insisting on, every occasion I can”.

“Are you convinced then? Have you understood it well? This is the legacy you will leave them; and say clearly that while your sons follow this, they will have followers from the south, north, east and west. Now leave the Retreat and send them off to their destinations. These will follow the rules, then others will come”.

Then the vehicles appeared once again to take us on to Turin. I was looking and looking: they were omnibuses, but sui generis, strange as could be. We began to get on; but the omnibuses had no supports of any kind and I was afraid they would fall off, so I didn't want to let them leave. But the person said to me: “Go, go: they don't need support, they just need to carry out these words: Sobrii estote et vigilate”.⁷ Whoever carries out these two things will not fall, even though there is no support and the carriage is running fast.

[Part 3] - They leave.

The carriage set off fast and I was with the individual. “Come”, he soon said to me, “Come, because I want to show you the most important part”. You have something to learn! So, do you see that large cart?”

“I can see it”.

“Do you know what it is?”

“I can't see it well”

“If you want to see it well, come up close. Do you see that poster there? Come up and look at it: there is an emblem on the poster, and that will tell you the rest”.

I came up and saw four very large nails painted on the poster. I turned to him saying:

“I don't understand anything unless you explain it!”

“Don't you see those four nails?” I looked carefully. “Those are the four nails that drilled into and tormented our Divine Saviour so much”

“And by that you mean?”

“They are four nails that torment religious congregations. If you avoid these four nails, meaning, that your congregation is not tormented by them, you keep them far away, then things will go well, you will be saved”

“But as I said before, What do these nails mean?”

“If you want to know better, have a closer look at the large carriage with the emblem on it. See, this carriage has four compartments, each corresponding to a nail”

“But what do these compartments mean?”

“Observe that at each one's entrance there is a poster with an inscription that explains everything”.

I observed the first compartment; I read the poster: Quorum Deus venter est.⁸

“Now I begin to understand something”.

Then he replied:

“This is the first nail that torments and sends religious congregations to their ruin. It will also decimate you, unless you are careful. Fight against it well and you will see that things will prosper”.

“Now let's come to the second compartment. Read the inscription for the second nail: Quaerunt quae sua sunt non quae Iesu Christi.⁹ Here are the ones who seek their own comforts, ease and own interests or perhaps those of their family, and they do not seek the good of the Congregation which is the portion of Jesus Christ. Be careful, keep this scourge away and you will see the Congregation prosper”.

Third compartment. Observe the inscription for the third nail, it says: Aspidis lingua eorum.¹⁰ “A fatal nail for Congregations: complaining, gossip, those who seek to criticise rightly or wrongly”.

Fourth compartment: Cubiculum otiositatis.¹¹ “Here are the idle ones in large numbers; when idleness starts to enter, the community will be ruined; instead, as long as it keeps working hard, you will be in no danger”.

“Now observe one more thing in this carriage, which very many take no notice of but I want you to give it very special attention. Do you see that closet that is not part of any compartment, but sticks out a little in all of them? Observe it well: it is like a half compartment or area”

“I see, but there is only a heap of weeds, tall grass, some cut, tangled”

“Good, good: this is what I want you to observe”

“What can I draw from this?”

“Observe well the inscription that is almost hidden”.

I did observe it well and I saw written: Latet anguis in herba.¹² “And what is that about?”

“Look, there are certain individuals who lie hidden; they say nothing but talk amongst themselves. Be careful: latet anguis in herba. They are a real scourge, real plagues in the Congregation. Bad as they are, if they could be uncovered, they could be corrected. But no, they remain hidden. We don't notice them and meanwhile things get worse; the poison spreads in their heart and when they eventually become known there is no more time to repair the damage they have already wrought. So learn the things well that you need to keep far away from the Congregation. Keep what you have seen well in mind. See that these things are explained and explained again at length. By doing so you can be at peace about your Congregation knowing that things will thrive, one day being better than the other”.

I asked him then, so I would not forget any of the the thins he had told me, if I could have some time to write them down. “If you wish to try”, he answered, “then write them down; but I fear you have little time. Be careful”.

While he was saying this and I was getting ready to write, I thought I heard a strange noise, agitation all around me. It seemed that the ground below me was shaking. So I looked around to see if something else was happening again and I saw some young people, who had left just a bit earlier, running back to me terrified from everywhere, and then immediately the bellowing of the bull. It was the same bull following them. When the bull reappeared, I was so scared at the sight of it that I woke up.

I have told you this dream now, before you leave, convinced that in all truth it would be a worthy conclusion to the Retreat if we would decide to keep to our motto: Work and Temperance; if we all do our best to avoid the four large nails that destroy Congregations: the vice of greed; seeking an easy life; complaining and idleness; to which we should add that each one must be open, frank and confident with his superiors. This way we will do good for our souls and at the same time can also save those entrusted to our care by Divine Providence.

If we wanted to give a special reminder that can serve throughout this year, it would be: seek every way of preserving the queen of virtues, the virtue that safeguards all others; and of we have it, it will never be alone, in fact it will be accompanied by all the others; if we lose it, the others will either not be there at all or will soon be lost. Love this virtue, love it a lot and remember that to keep it you must work and pray: Non eicitur nisi in jejunio et oratione.¹³

Yes, prayer and mortification. Especially mortification in looks, in rest, food and especially wine. Not seeking comforts for our bodies, indeed I would almost say mistreating them. No special treatment other than what is necessary; when health demands it, yes. Give the body what is strictly necessary and no more; because, as St Paul used say: Corpus hoc quod corrumpitur aggravat animam.¹⁴ Sì! What did St Paul do? Castigo corpus meum et in servitutem redigo ut spiritui inserviat.¹⁵

So I recommend here what I recommended at the end of the other Retreats: obedience, patience, hope… The other thing is the humility we need to have and inculcate in our young people and others, virtues that would ordinarily be called the foundation of Christian living and perfection.

9 May 1879

A huge long battle between our boys and all kinds of other warriors, various kinds with strange weapons. At the end few survived.

Another more intense and horrible battle took place between gigantic monsters and well-armed, well-practised very tall men. They carried a very high, broad standard at the centre of which, written in gold, were these words: Maria Auxilium Christianorum. The battle was long and bloody. It was as if those following the standard were invulnerable and they remained masters of the huge plain. They were joined by the youngsters who had survived the previous battle and together they made up a kind of army, each with a crucifix in his right had as a weapon, and in his left a small standard of Mary Help of Christians, modelled on the one above.

The new soldiers held many manoeuvres on that vast plain, then they split up and left, some to the West, others to the East, a few to the North, many to the South.

Once they had gone the same battles reoccurred, the same manoeuvres and same departures in the same directions.

I knew many of them from the earlier scuffles; the ones that followed were unknown to me but they let me know that they knew me and they asked me many questions.

Then a shower of bright flames came down; it looked like fire of many colours. There was thunder then the sky cleared and I found myself in a lovely garden. A man who looked like St Francis de Sales offered me a book, without saying anything. I asked him who he was. “Read the book”, he answered. I opened the book but it was difficult to read. However I managed to identify these precise words:

For the novices: Obedience and diligence in everything. By their obedience they will deserve the Lord's blessings and the good will of men. By their diligence they will combat and conquer the snares of spiritual enemies.

For the professed: Jealously safeguard the virtue of chastity. Love the good name of the confreres and promote the dignity of the Congregation.

For the Rectors: Every care, every effort to observe the Rule and see that the Rule by which everyone is consecrated to God is observed.

For the Superior: Total offering of himself to see that he wins both himself and his subejcts over to God.

Many other things were printed in the book, but I couldnìte read them because the paper seemed as blue as the ink.

— Who are you? I asked the man again as he stood there calmly looking at me.

— My name is known to all the good, and I have been sent to tell you some things about the future.

— What things?

— those written down and others you will ask me about.

— Walt should I do to promote vocations?

— The Salesians will have many vocations through their exemplary conduct, by treating their pupils with the greatest charity and insisting on frequent Communion.

— What should be observed in accepting novices?

— Exclude the lazy and the greedy.

— And accepting for vows? — See that they have a guarantee of being chaste.

— How do we best preserve a good spirit in our houses?

— Write, visit, receive and deal with people kindly, and very often in the case of the first superiors.

— How should we go about the missions?

— Send individuals who morality is secure; call back anyone who give you cause for serious doubts; work at and cultivate indigenous vocations.

— Is our Congregation going well?

— Qui iustus est, iustificetur adhuc; Non progredi est regredi: Qui perseveraverit salvus erit.¹⁷

— Will it expand much?

— As long as the superiors do their part it will grow and no one will be able to stop it from spreading.

— Will it last a long time?

— the Congregation will last so long as its members love work and temperance. If one of these two pillars is missing your building will collapse around your superiors and inferiors and their followers.

Just then four individuals appeared carrying a bier and walking towards me.

— What is this for? I said

— For you.

— Soon?

— Don't ask, just remember that you are mortal.

— What do you want to signify by this coffin?

— That you must practise in life what you want your sons to practise after you. This is the legacy, the testament you must leave your sons; but you must prepare it and leave it well accomplished and practised.

— Will flowers or thorns dominate?

— There will be many roses, many consolations but some very prickly thorns are imminent and they will and they will bring much bitterness and sorrow. You need to pray a lot.

— Should we go to Rome?

— Yes, but slowly, with the greatest prudence and exquisite caution.

— Is the end of my mortal life imminent?

— Don't worry about this. You have the Rule, books, do what you teach others to do. Be vigilant.

I wanted to ask other questions, but there was a thunderstorm and lightning, and some men, or I should really say terrible monsters were rushing towards me to tear me to pieces. Just then everything went dark and I could see nothing. I thought I was dead and I began shouting out wildly. I awoke and found myself still alive. It was a quarter to five in the morning.

If there is something there that could be to your advantage, take it.

In everything, honour and glory to God forever and ever.

10-11 September 1881

Spiritus Sancti gratia illuminet sensus et corda nostra. Amen¹⁹

On the night of the 10th of September (1881), the day the holy Church consecrates to the holy name of Mary, the Salesians gathered at S. Benigno Canavese were making their Retreat. On the night of the 10th, while I was sleeping, I found myself in a large and splendidly ornate hall. I seemed to be walking up and down with the Rectors of our houses when a man appeared amongst us of such majestic mien that we could not keep our eyes fixed on him. He gazed at us then without a word began to take a few paces ahead of us.

He wore an imposing mantle with a stole-like collar tied at the neck with a ribbon that hung down in front. On the stole was written in luminous characters: Pia Salesianorum Societas anno 1881, and on the ribbon: Qualis esse debet.²⁰

The august personage wore ten huge diamonds of extraordinary splendour which was what prevented us from fixing our gaze on him, except with out great effort.

Three of the diamonds were on his breast and on one was inscribed Fides, on another Spes and Charitas was inscribed on the one over his heart. The fourth diamond was on the right shoulder where Labor was inscribed; over the fifth on the left shoulder one could read Temperantia.

The other five diamonds adorned the back of the mantle and were arranged thus: one very large and brighter one was in the middle, like at the centre of a square, and it bore the inscription Obedientia. On the first on the right one could read Votum Paupertatis. On the second a little lower, Praemium. On the left higher up was inscribed Votum Castitatis with a dazzling splendour all of its own and looking at it attracted and held the attnetion like a magnet attracts metal. On the second on the left lower down was written Ieiunium. All four of these directed their rays of light towards the diamond at the centre.

Explanation – To avoid confusion it should be noted that each diamond had rays like flames small tongues of flame on which various texts could be read: Faith carried the maxim Sumite scutum fidei ut adversus insidias diaboli certare possitis.²¹ Another ray read Fides sine operibus mortua est.²² Non auditores, sed factores legis regnum Dei possidebunt.²³

On the rays of Hope, Sperate in Domino, non in hominibus.²⁴ Semper vestra fixa sint corda ubi vera sunt gaudia.²⁵

On the rays of Charity, Alter alterius onera portate si vultis adimplere legem meam.²⁶ Diligite et diligemini. Sed diligite animas vestras et vestrorum.²⁷ Devote divinum officium persolvatur; Missa attente celebretur; Sanctum Sanctorum peramanter visitetur.²⁸

On the word Labor, or Work, Remedium concupiscentiae; Arma potens contra omnes insidias diaboli.²⁹

On Temperance: Si lignum tollis, ignis extinguitur.³⁰ Pactum constitue cum oculis tuis, cum gula, cum somno, ne huiusmodi inimici depraedentur animas vestras.³¹ Intemperantia et castitas non possunt simul cohabitare.³²

On the rays of Obedience: Totius aedificii fundamentum, et sanctitatis compendium.³³

On the rays of Poverty: Ipsorum est Regnum coelorum.³⁴ Divitiae sunt spinae.³⁵ Paupertas non verbis, sed corde et opere conficitur.³⁶ Ipsa coeli ianuam aperiet et introibit.³⁷

On the rays of Chastity, Omnes virtutes veniunt pariter cum illa.³⁸ Qui mundo sunt corde, Dei arcana vident, et Deum ipsum videbunt.³⁹

On the rays of Reward, Si delectat magnitudo praemiorum, non deterreat multitudo laborum.⁴⁰ Qui mecum patitur, mecum gaudebit.⁴¹ Momentaneum est quod patimur in terra, aeternum est quod delectabit in coelo amicos meos.⁴²

On the rays of Fasting, Arma potentissima adversus insidias inimici.⁴³ Omnium virtutum custos.⁴⁴ Omne genus daemoniorum per ipsum ejicitur.⁴⁵

A large red-coloured ribbon hemmed the bottom of the cloak, and above this ribbon was inscribed, Argumentum praedicationis, mane, meridie et vespere.⁴⁶ Colligite fragmenta virtutum et magnum sanctitatis aedificium vobis constituetis.⁴⁷ Vae vobis qui modica spernitis, paulatim decidetis.⁴⁸

Up till this moment some of the Rectors were standing, others kneeling; but all were astonished and no one spoke. At this point Fr Rua spoke excitedly — We need to take notes lest we forget. He looked for a pen but couldn't find one; he pulled out his wallet, searched it but there was no pencil. I will remember, said Fr Durando. I want to take notes, added Fr Fagnano, and began to write with the stem of a rose. We were all looking and we could understand what he was writing. When Fr Fagnano stopped writing, Fr Costamagna continued to dictate: Charity understands all things, sustains all things, conquers all things; let us preach this in word and deed.

While Fr Fagnano was writing, we all found ourselves in pitch dark. — Quiet, said Fr Ghivarello, let us kneel down and pray and the light will return. Fr Lasagna began the Veni Creator, then the De Profundis, Maria Auxilium Christianorum etc. to which we responded. When we said Ora pro nobis, a light reappeared, surrounding a placard on which we could read: Pia Salesianorum Societas qualis esse periclitatur anno salutis 1900.⁴⁹

A moment later the light became brighter so that we could see and recognise one another. In the midst of this brightness the personage we had seen before appeared again but looking distressed like someone on the verge of tears. His mantles had become faded, moth-eaten, in tatters. In place of the diamonds there were gaping holes caused by moths and other insects.

Respicite, he told us, et intelligite.⁵⁰ I saw that the ten diamonds had become grubs that were hungrily eating up the garment.

Therefore the diamond Fides had been replaced by somnus et accidia.⁵¹

For Spes there was risus et scurrilitas.⁵²

For Charitas: Negligentia in divinis perficiendis.⁵³ Amant et quaerunt quae sua sunt, non quae Iesu Christi.⁵⁴

For Temperantia: Gula et quorum Deus venter est.⁵⁵

For Labor: Somnus, furtum et otiositas.⁵⁶

In place of Obedientia there was nothing but a large, deep hole and nothing written.

For Castitas: Concupiscentia oculorum et superbia vitae.⁵⁷

For Povertas there was: Lectum, habitus, potus et pecunia.⁵⁸

For Praemium: Pars nostra erunt quae sunt super terram.⁵⁹

For Ieiunium there was a hole and nothing written.

We were all terrified at the sight. Fr Lasagna fainted, Fr Cagliero went as white as a sheet and leaning against a chair cried out: “Is it possible that things have come to this?” Fr Lazzero and Fr Guidazio and were holding onto each other to stop from falling. Fr Francesia, Count Cays, Fr Barberis and Fr Leveratto were kneeling, rosaries in hand and praying.

Then we heard a sombre voice: Quomodo mutatus est color optimus!⁶⁰

But in the darkness something remarkable occurred. We suddenly found ourselves enveloped in darkness, in the midst of which appeared a bright light in human form. We could not look at it, but we could see that it was a handsome young man dressed in a white cloak woven through with gold and silver thread. All around it was hemmed with very bright diamonds. He was of imposing and charming mine and he came towards us and addressed us with these exact werds:

"Servi et instrumenta Dei Omnipotentis, attendite et intelligite. Confortamini et estote robusti. Quod vidistis et audistis est coelestis admonitio quae nunc vobis et fratribus vestris facta est; animadvertite et intelligite sermonem. Iacula praevisa minus feriunt, et praeveniri possunt. Quot sunt verba signata, tot sint argumenta praedicationis. Indesinenter praedicate opportune et importune. Sed quae praedicatis, constanter facite, adeo ut opera vestra sint velut lux quae sicuti tuta traditio ad fratres et filios vestros pertranseat de generatione in generationem. Attendite et intelligite: — Estote oculati in tironibus acceptandis; fortes in colendis; prudentes in admittendis. Omnes probate; sed tantum quod bonum est tenete. Leves et mobiles dimittite. Attendite et intelligite: — Meditatio matutina et vespertina sit indesinenter de observantia Constitutionum. Si id feceritis numquam vobis deficiet Omnipotentis auxilium. Spectaculum facti eritis mundo et angelis et tunc gloria vestra erit gloria Dei. Qui videbunt saeculum hoc exiens et alterum incipiens, ipsi dicent de vobis: — A Domino factum est istud et est mirabile in oculis nostris. Tunc omnes fratres vestri et filii vestri una voce cantabunt: — Non nobis, Domine, non nobis; sed nomini tuo da gloriam».⁶¹

These last words were sung, and to the voice of the one speaking were added a multitude of other voices so melodious and resonant that we were left benumbed, and to prevent ourselves from swooning, we joined in the singing. As soon as the singing finished it all went dark. Then I awoke, and I say that it was daylight.

Reminder — This dream lasted almost the entire night and in the morning I was completely worn out. Nevertheless for fear of forgetting I got up quickly and took some notes that served to remind me of what I have spoken of on this day of the presentation of Mary in the Temple.

It was not possible to recall everything. Amongst many other things I could detect with certainty that the Lord shows us great mercy. Our Society is blessed by Heaven, but he wants us to do our part. The threatened evils will be prevented if we preach on the virtues and vices noted there: if we practise what we preach and we pass it on to our confreres the authentic tradition of our past and future works.

I was able to see that there are many thorns imminent, many efforts, but they will be followed by many great consolations. Around 1890 there will be great fear; around 1895 there will be a great triumph. Maria Auxilium Christianorum, ora pro nobis.