Circular for a Lottery

Don Bosco

Circular concerning a public lottery in favour of a work of social and religious welfare

Turin, 20 December 1851

Your Lordship,

A modest charitable work was undertaken some ten years ago in a district of this City, under the title of the Oratory of St Francis de Sales, directed solely to the intellectual and moral good of that portion of youth who through parental negligence, bad companions or lack of means, finds itself exposed to the constant risk of corruption. Some individuals keen on the proper education of the people regretfully noticed that there was a growing number of young people who were idle and ill-advised, living on what they can borrow or by fraud on street corners or in the squares. They weigh on society and are often instruments of all kinds of misdeeds. They also saw with great sadness that many who had spent some time at work, were going out on Sundays and Holy Days spending their time in gambling or drinking away the little they had earned during the week. Wanting to remedy an evil that can only have very sad consequences, they decided to open a house for Sunday gatherings, where everyone could be at ease in fulfilling his religious duties and also receive some instruction, some advice or guidance for living his life in an upright and Christian way.

Therefore the Oratory of St Francis de Sales was set up with the charitable help of generous people who usually spend money on things to do with the public good. Items useful for celebrating religious functions and for giving the youngsters moral and civil education were made ready. Similarly for games equipment that would help develop their physical strength and provide honest recreation, in this way trying to make their stay in the place useful and pleasant.

It is difficult to explain how the youngsters took to the invitation extended without any real publicity; it was just of the kind that usually gets passed on amongst family members, to come to the Oratory every Sunday or Holy Day. But it gave encouragement to enlarge the enclosure and over time introduce the improvements that ingenious and prudent charity suggested. Then on Sundays and later on winter evenings classes began: reading, writing, elements of arithmetic and Italian, and a special opportunity for getting the youngsters familiar with the use of the measurements they felt they had most need of, given that many were working with trades.

The aim was to instil in them affection for the families, fraternal charity, respect for authority, gratitude to benefactors, love for work, and more than anything else instruct them in Catholic and moral teaching, lead them away from the road to wrongdoing, infuse in them the holy fear of God, and give them timely instruction on the observance of religious precepts. These are the things that for the last ten years zealous priests and lay people have worked hard and given most of their concern to. So while there are people who have worked laudably at spreading scientific knowledge or helping the arts progress, assisted industry and the education of better-off young people in boarding schools and senior high schools, in the modest Oratory of St Francis de Sales it has been mainly a case of religious and civil education for young people who also have the strength and will to be useful for themselves, their families and the country although they are less favoured by fortune.

However, recognising that the chapel was too small to accommodate the great number of boys, and not wanting to leave off halfway in such an effort that had begun so well, the promoters, full of confidence in the generosity of their fellow citizens, decided to put their hand to a bigger building better suited to the purpose and so ensure the lasting nature of such a useful educational institution. Putting aside any delay and overcoming any doubts, they courageously laid the foundations for the new Oratory. Donations, gifts, encouragement have not failed thus far and so much progress was made in the work that in a few short months the building has reached as far as the roof. But ordinary means are no longer enough to bring this building to completion, and it is necessary for the inexhaustible charity of the public to come to the aid of private charity. It is to this end that the undersigned promoters of this pious work turn to Your Lordship, asking your agreement to and proposing a way that has already been successfully employed by other well-deserving institutions and will certainly not fail for the Oratory of St Francis de Sales. The proposal is a lottery of items which the undersigned are thinking of undertaking to supplement the cost of completing the new chapel and which Your Lordship, we have no doubt, will agree to considering the excellence of the work it is to be directed to.

If Your Lordship could offer us any item of silk, or wool, metal, wood or some craft item or something by some charitable noblewoman it will all be gratefully accepted, because when it comes to charity, any small help is a big one, and because even the small offerings of many when put together may be enough to complete the desired work. The undersigned trust in your Lordship's kindness, certain that the idea of agreeing to the proper education of abandoned youth could do no less than encourage you to give something. For the rest it is enough to remind you of the singular kindness that people of every kind and status have shown and promised to achieve the extension. Especially valuable has been the vote of the first legislative body of the State which after having taken things into kind consideration, appointed a commission to receive precise details, and once knowing them warmly recommended it to the King's Government. Also valuable has been the generous two year subsidy decreed by the unanimous vote of the Turin City Council. His and Her Majesties have shown extraordinary largesse, deigning to offer help, and venerable bishops and distinguished people pleased to recommend it to public charity have shown a special kindness.

The undersigned extend their anticipated thanks to Your Lordship for the courteous cooperation you will offer for the successful outcome of the proposed lottery, and we implore Heavens blessings upon you.

Your most obliging servants,

The Promoters.

Note: 'The Promoters' includes Don Bosco, obviously, and this letter is almost certainly his