2-A.-Lenti-Don-Boscos-Last-Years-His-Last-Illness-and-Saintly-Death-from-Eyewitness-Accounts%281994%29


2-A.-Lenti-Don-Boscos-Last-Years-His-Last-Illness-and-Saintly-Death-from-Eyewitness-Accounts%281994%29

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Don Bosco's Last Years, His Last Illness and
Saintly Death From Eyewitness Accounts
Arthur J. Lenti, SDB
Introduction
D on Bosco lay dying stretched immobile on his little iron bed, his faithful
sons kneeling around him. It was January 31 of the year 1888.
At about a quarter to two in the morning the agony began. Father [Michele]
Rua and Bishop [Giovanni] Cagliero recited the ritual prayers. The death-
rattle lasted until a quarter to fi ve. Then, as the Angelus rang out from the
bells of our church, Don Bosco's rasping breath quieted down. Half a minute
later he was dead. He was in paradise.I
With these simple and to uching words, secretary Carlo Maria Viglietti, chief
chronicler of Don Bosco's last years, brings the chronicle of the master's last
illness and saintly death to an end.
News of Don Bosco's critical illness of December 1887-January 1888
brought thousands of people from near and far to his bedside. His death itself ta!
worldwide resonance. It seemed in fact that Don Bosco's last illness and death,
and the publicity which surrounded them, had the effect of focusing the world's
attention on the greatness of the man and of his achievements. Don Bosco's
death, however, was neither sudden nor unexpected. He had been suffering from
serious chronic ailments for a long time. His condition grew progressively
worse, to the point that in 1884, a critically grave illness caused his quasi-
retirement and signaled the beginning of a three-year decline toward the end.
Don Bosco's biographers have given good accounts of Don Bosco's last
years, drawing on various sources, including eyewitness accounts. This is espe-
cially true for his last illness and saintly death. Nor did they fail, in so doing, to
dwell o n the historic significance of Don Bosco's life and work.2
1 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. Vill, pp. 40f. in ASC 11 0: Cronachette,
Viglieui; FDBM 1227 D8. A description of the eyewitness chronicles on which this
paper is based is given below.
2 First and foremost, Giovanni Battista Lemoyne's Documenli [Volumes XXXVI-

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24
Journal of Salesian Studies
The present essay has a rather modest aim. Steering clear of the com-
plexities of a biographical reconstruction, it will simply describe Don Rosco's
m last years, including his last illness and death, with focus on the person,
with emphasis on words and attitudes. For this it will rely on eyewiUless oc-
counts, the chronicles and memoirs authored by Salesians close to the saint. The
Biographical Memoirs and other Lives of Don Bosco, reliable though they be, do
not generally convey that sense of immediacy and the direct perception which
those early documents possess. Biographical concerns, as well as hagiographic
purposes, have demanded molding and editing of the original material.
Therefore, my chief endeavor (I will not call it research) has been to study
the relevant chronicles and memoirs which are held in the Salesian archives.3
The texts in question generally fail to measure up to literary standards. They
were largely written under pressure and in great haste; and some were authored by
persons who either lacked literary skills or had at the moment no literary
pretension. Style, orthography, grammar, punctuation, and handwriting generally
leave much to be desired. But they are eyewiUless accounts! I have studied ax!
copied these texts carefully, and have produced a transcription of the originals
which, though not claiming critical or diplomatic status, can nonetheless claim a
high degree of accuracy. For the purpose of this essay, I have translated the orig-
inal (mostly Italian) texts into what I hope is readable English. This obviously
required smoothing over the illiterate features of the texts, although my chief
concern has been to interpret and render the original with all possible accuracy.
My presentation will be in three parts. After describing the archival sources
(Part I), it will survey Don Rosco's last three years, the period of his quasi-
retirement (Part II). Part III will deal more particularly with Don Rosco's last
illness and death.
Part I: Chronicles and Memoirs
Which of the numerous early chronicles and memoirs are most relevant to a 00-
scription of Don Bosco's last years, and particularly to his last illness and death?
By far the most important in this respect are the chronicles and the memoirs
produced by Don Bosco's secretary, valet, and constant companion during the
last four years, seminarian (then Father) Carlo Maria Viglietti. Next in
importance is the memoir left us by Brother Pietro Giuseppe Enria, who served
XXXIX and XLIV, pp. 658-739; in ASC 110: Cronachette, Lemoyne-Doc; FDBM
1142-1161and1193 E4-1194 B11]. Father Eugenio Ceria draws upon this staggering
collection of material for his account in the Biographical Memoirs [IBM XVIII, 485-
587], which includes also, in edited form, the salient data provided by the chronicles.
3 The section of the Central Salesian Archives (ASC) relating to Don Bosco
(Fondo Don Bosco, Don Bosco files) is available in microfiches (FDBM); these
have served as my chief resource.

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Don Bosco's Last Illness
25
as Don Bosco's sick-room attendant from 1871 on. All too brief, but of great in-
terest, is the anecdotal memoir authored by Father Antonio Sala, financial ai-
ministrator of the Society al the time. Father Francesco Cerruti, too, also a
member of the general council of the Society, produced a brief memoir covering
a very restricted period of time. Father Michele Rua, prefect and vicar general of
the Society, sent out a number of bulletins meant to keep Salesians abreast of
Don Bosco's condition during the crisis of late December-early January 1887-
1888. Finally, we have the posthumous work entitled, Chi era Don Bosco?
(Who Was Don Bosco?), authored by Don Bosco's physician in attendance, Dr.
Giovanni Alberlotti. It is a work of uneven value, but obviously authoritative
when speaking of Don Bosco' s illness.
On the other hand, it appears that other Salesians close LO Don Bosco md
active in important capacities, such as Father Michele Rua, Father Giovanni
Bonetti, Father Giulio Barberis, Father Gioacchino Berto, etc., did not produce
sustained first-hand chronicles or memoirs referring to the period of Don Bosco's
last years. The chief reasons for this apparent failure are LO be sought in the fac t
that they either did not attend Don Bosco on a regular basis or they had delegated
the recording task to others. This is largely the case also with Father Giovanni
Battista Lemoyne, who was otherwise actively engaged at this time in collecting
biographical material. He d id, however, produce a valuable chronicle for the year
1884, known as Ricordi di gabinetto. Indeed, this work is one of our chief
sources for the crises of 1884 which resulted in Don Bosco's quasi-retirement and
in the appointment of a vicar with right of succession; but it extends no further
in time. Unfortunately this diary is not available Lo me.4
At this point, it is necessary to describe the work of our chroniclers, with
particular auention given to the chronicles authored by Don Bosco's last
secretary, Carlo Maria Viglietti, and to the memoirs left by Don Bosco's sick-
room attendant, Pietro Giuseppe Enria.
4 Father Lemoyne had served as chaplain to the Salesian Sisters at Momese and
Nizza since 1877. He was recalled to Turin in the autumn of 1883 to fill the post of
secretary general. He thus also had an opportunity to pursue his ambition, to gather
material in view of a future biography of Don Bosco. His 45-volume collecti on,
called Documenti, and the first nine volumes of the Biographical Memoirs which
followed, are his outstanding contribution. His Ricardi di gabinetto (office
reminders) is a small agenda-calendar book from the year 1846, used in part by
Lemoyne during his seminary days, and used again for diary jottings nearly fo rty
years later! The entries of the diary in question refer to the year 1884. It is in ASC
110: Lemoyne 4, but because of its poor condition it has not been reproduced in the
FDB Microfiches. Hence, it is not available lo me.

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26
Journal of Saleslan Studies
I. Carlo Maria Viglietti: His Chronicles and Memoirs
1. Viglietti, Don Bosco's Secretary5
Carlo Maria Viglietti (1864-1915) was born at Susa. This sizable town is lo-
cated in the Alps near the French border some thirty miles west of Turin. At the
age of twelve Carlo was accepted as a boarder in the Salesian school of Lanzo,
where Father Giovanni Battista Lemoyne was director. Although a good lad and a
good student, Viglietti seems to have been less than exemplary in matters of
school discipline, no doubt out of sheer exuberance rather than malice.
From an autobiographical "preface" appended to the chronicle we learn that
Carlo Viglietti was born into a rather comfortable family, one of several brothers
and sisters, and that Mr. Federico Viglietti and Don Bosco were friends. We are
also told how Don Bosco "chose" young Carlo for a special relationship. "When
Don Bosco saw me at the [Salesian] school of Lanzo back in 1878 he recognized
me and told me that he wanted me ' to be with him .' This he repeated to me more
emphatically in June 1880; and in 1882 he explained to me what he meant by
'wanting me to be with him."' Viglietti goes on to state that after obtaining his
high school diploma and foregoing the usual holidays with the family at the
villa, in July of that year he entered the novitiate at San Benigno.6
In a short autobiographical memoir, Viglietti writes more specifically:
In August 1882, after the spiritual retreat presided over by Don Bosco at San
Benigno, my fellow novices were sent to the Salesian school of Borgo San
Martino for their holidays to make room for another in-coming group of
young people. But the good father asked me to stay on with him and as-
signed to me the task of drafting a map of Patagonia. I worked at this
project faithfully, but I spent every free moment at my good father's side.
He would freely relate events out of the past to me, including those
extraordinary dreams with which the Lord favored him.
I made my novitiate during the school year of 1882-83. During that
year Don Bosco wished to hear from me regularly and would also send me
occasional little gifts. That summer, after the novitiate, he admitted me to
perpetual vows. After the spiritual retreat, my companions moved to Lanzo
Torinese [for the holidays], but Don Bosco kept me with him at San
Benigno. Early every morning, I waited for him to come out of his room,
5 The Viglietti chronicles are in ASC 110: Cronachette Viglietti; FDBM 1222
02-1251 All. For biographical details not found in these chronicles I rely on the
Dizionario Biografico dei Salesiani, p. 294, based on the 12-page sketch by
Giovanni Battista Francesia, Carolus Maria Viglietti sacerdos. Turin (1915?); Francis
Desramaut, Les Memorie I , pp. 167-171, based on Viglietti files in ASC.
6 Viglietti, "Autobiographical Author's Preface" (Due Parole) appended to the
Transcribed and Edited Chronicle, Notebook 5, pp. 426-434, FDBM 1240 D6-E2.

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Don Bosco's Last Illness
27
accompanied him to church, and served his Mass. During the day my job
was to sit [as receptionist] in Don Bosco's waiting room and see to it that
the interviews proceeded in an orderly fashion. [...]
In the autumn of that year [1883) I began my second year of college [at
Valsalice]. Now, that same November Cardinal Gaetano Alimonda became
archbishop of Turin, and Don Bosco called on me to prepare the
Congregation's present for our newly-appointed shepherd; it was to be a
huge map of the Turin diocese. I drafted it on detailed military maps, to
show clearly all roads, tracks and water courses; parish houses, chapels,
churches, and vicarages. The cardinal was delighted with the present. Don
Bosco, too, was mightily pleased with the work, all the more so since the
map showed his home place and the very house in which he had been born.
I mentioned this matter here only because it was under these
circumstances that one day I came into Turin to present the masterpiece to
the archbishop. It was on that occasion that Don Bosco summoned me to
his room and asked me point-blank: "Would you like to [leave college and]
come permanently to Turin as my secretary?" I was stunned and absolutely
beside myself with joy at such a proposal; I could hardly believe my great
good fortune. Don Bosco went on: " I am leaving for Rome shortly. Be here
for me on my return. You shall have to be the baculus senectutis meae (my
walking cane in my old age)".7
After a very serious bout with illness in February 1884 (as will be seen below),
Don Bosco overcame the crisis and recovered sufficiently to undertake a trip to
southern France, and thence to Rome in April-May on the business of the ex-
emption privileges. On May 17, Don Bosco was back in Turin, where without
any doubt Viglietti (not quite twenty at the time) was already waiting to take up
his duties as Don Bosco's personal secretary and valet. The first entry of
Viglietti's chronicle, with the date of May 20, reads: "I have been called to Turin
as Father [Gioacchino] Berta 's associate in Don Bosco's service. [My duty will
be] to accompany Don Bosco everywhere he may have to go. Father Lemoyne
has decided to entrust Don Bosco's chronicle to me for the coming year.8
7 Viglietti, Short Autobiographical Memoir, pp. 1-3, FDBM 1232 C5-7 .
Entitled "Memorie," this 3-page autobiographical account describes how Don Bosco
chose Viglietti as his secretary.
8 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. I, p. 1, FDBM 1222 D4. In transcribing his
chronicle Viglietti edits this entry as follows: "Don Bosco has summoned me to Turin
to help Father Berto and Father Lemoyne. My duty initially is to accompany Don
Bosco wherever he may have to go. Consequently, Father Lemoyne has asked me to
take over the chronicle" [Transcribed and Edited Chronicle, notebook 1, p. 5, FDBM
1232 C9].
Father Gioacchino Berto had been for many years Don Rosco's personal
secretary and the Society's archivist; but in 1884 he was already seriously ill with
neurosis and would shortly have to be retired [cf. note 81, below]. For Father
Lemoyne cf. note 4, above.

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Journal of Salesian Studies
But Viglietti was also hearing the siren call of a cherished youthful ideal,
the missions. In the eighties the missionary fervor had reached fever pitch among
Salesians young and old. The Vicariate of Patagonia and the Prefecture of
Southern Patagonia and Tierra de! Fuego had been created in 1883, and Bishop-
elect Giovanni Cagliero was preparing for his episcopal ordination in December
1884. In his Original Chronicle, Viglietti merely inserted a brief marginal note:
" I had decided to go to the missions, after having sought other [people's] advice.
But Don Bosco said to me: ' You shall not go; you are to be the staff of my old
age, and you will close my eyes [when I die]'."9 But in his Transcribed cnl
Edited Chronicle he tells the story in detail:
I had for a long time wanted very much to devote my life to the missions of
[South] America. It would obviously have been a very painful sacrifice for
me; but it seemed a noble thing to do, to leave everything, homeland axl
family, and spend my whole life working in obscurity in those far-away
lands. I had already consulted Father Cagliero and other missionaries. They
had given me their unanimous support, they had accepted me, and they
already regarded me as having joined their ranks. However, when it came to
approach Don Bosco and frankly open my mind to him on the subject, my
courage had failed. The very thought of having to tell him broke my heart.
In this painful predicament, I sought Father Cagliero's advice. He
reassuringly told me not to worry, that he would himself take up the matter
with Don Bosco.
This evening, then, Don Bosco sent for me and said to me: "Dear
Vig lietti, I hear that you wish to leave me. Is this true? What did I ever cb
to you to deserve such a thing? However, if that is your decision, go with
my blessing; but you should know that it is not your vocation, to go to the
missions." I stood there for a while petrified; then I broke into a flood of
tears, and between loud sobs I tried to explain that I had meant to do the
right thing, and that Father Cagliero had all along assured me of Don
Bosco's approval. I quickly nhl that I would rather die that leave him
against his wishes; this, in spite of the fact that my trunk was packed, axl
all preparations for my departure had been completed. I fell on my knees axl
I begged him to dispose of me as he wished, for I had volunteered for the
missions solely because I thought that would make him happy.
Then Don Bosco in his gentlest and most loving manner placed his
hand on my head; and looking at me with a piercing prophetic gaze, he said:
"No, my dear Viglietti, you shall not leave me; you shall stay and help me
through the few years that are left to me. You are to be the staff of my old
age, and you will close my eyes at last when I pass into etemity."10
9 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. I, p. 3, "October 4, 1884," FDBM 1222 05.
IO Viglieni, Transcribed and Edited Chronicle, Notebook 1, pp. 23-25, "October
4, 1844," FDBM 1232 E3-5: The last sentence reads in Italian: "No, caro Viglieui, tu
non parlirai; lu mi assislerai in quesli pochi anni che mi rimangono di vita, sarai i l

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Between May 1884 and January 1888, he served Don Bosco with slavish devo-
Lion as his reader, sacristan, auendant and consLant companion. Although
Viglielti was not Don Rosco's only companion during Lhe last journeys, the
secretary's resourcefulness, competence, skills, personality, and irrepressible en-
thusiasm proved a valuable asset to Don Bosco - in France (1885),11 in Spain
(1886), 12 in Milan (1886)13 and in Rome (1887).14
Besides serving as Don Rosco's "man," Viglietti read to Don Bosco (whose
eyesight had greatly deteriorated) and took dicLalion from him of lellers, dreams,
past recollections, official advice, elc. Having quickly gained a basic knowledge
of the Spanish language, he took over Don Rosco's Spanish correspondence.
Don Bosco treated him as a son, and Viglietti returned "papa's" love wilh filial
affection and childlike devotion. Don Bosco trusted him completely and took
him into his confidence.
Where and when he found Lhe time to read his Lheological treatises Viglietti
does not say; but in his chronicle he notes (in passing) the dates on which he
received various sacred orders, all in the last few months of 1886. A letter of his
to Father Giulio Barberis would tend to show Lhal he may also have suffered
Lhrough some kind of vocational crisis.15 But he was ordained a priesl on
December 18, of that year.16
bastone de/la mia vecchiaia, e infine chiuderai i miei occhi per l' eternita."
11 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. I, pp. 5 -78, "March 24-May 6, 1885,"
FDBM 1222 D6-1223 B7.
12 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. III, pp. 57-93 + Vol. IV, pp. 1-72, "March
12-May 15, 1886," FDBM 1224 C4-1225 BlO.
13 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. V, pp. 36-45, "September 11 -13, 1886 ,"
FDBM 1225 D6-10.
14 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VI, pp. 31-83 +Vol. VII, pp. 3-10, "April
20-May 20, 1887," FDBM 1226 B3-Dll.
15 The Jetter describes a tete-a-tete lasting late into the evening, during which
Don Bosco spoke to him "words of paradise." Viglietti continues: "The good father
loves me so much! I was crying from sheer Jove, while he held me closely in his arms.
Then he ordered me under obedience to speak with you [Father Barberis] and with
Father Rua about my ordination" [Viglietti to Barberis, June 14, 1886, in Francis
Desramaut, Les Memorie I de G.B. Lemoyne. Etude d'un ouvrage fondamental sur la
jeunesse de Saint Jean Bosco (Lyons: Maison d'etudes Saint-Jean-Bosco, 1962), p.
170, note 20.]
l6 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. V, p. 61, "December 18, 1886," FDBM
1225 E6: "Today, with eleven companions, I was ordained a priest by Bishop
[Giovanni Battista] Bertagna in the seminary chapel." "December 19, 1886," "Today
I celebrated my first Mass for the student community. [...] It seems unreal, to be a
priest at twenty-two and-a-half years of age!"

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Journal of Saleslan Studies
Afler Don Bosco's death, Viglietti was appointed by Father Rua spiritual
director at Lanzo (1890-1896), and then Director at Bologna (1896-1904),17 at
Savona (1904-1906), and finally at Varazze ( 1906-1912), where in 1907 he lived
through the infamous scandal. He died at Valdocco in 1915.
Viglietti reveals himself at every step as a sensitive and imaginative person,
and by far the most original of the chroniclers. Although, except for the longer
trips, he did not keep a daily record or diary, his chronicles contain an enormous
amount of information on Don Bosco's last years, including episodes, sayings,
keepsakes, witticisms. They are replete with narratives of dreams, miracles, axl
other extraordinary happenings. They speak of Don Bosco's triumphal journeys
and of his popularity with both the great and the lowly with enthusiastic wonder.
2. Viglietti's Chronicles and Memoirs
As one peruses the collection of the Viglietti chronicles held in the "chronicles"
section of the SaJesian archives (ASC 110), one immedialely becomes aware of
repetitions, transcriptions with editing, and various hands - in short, an
editorial process. This situation resulted from the fact that Viglietti (writing for
future biographers) edited his original chronicle, or sections of it, in stages. He
also wrote additional memoirs separately. Obviously, such editorial complexities
call for critical evaluation. IS Here I will merely attempt to sort out and briefly
describe this archival material on the basis of internal evidence and the
indications provided by Viglietti himself.
[i] Original Chronicle 1884-188819
Bearing the title of Cronaca di D. Bosco, the original chronicle, all in Viglietti 's
hand, is in eight "volumes," wilh incomplete pagination by an archivist.
Volumes I, II, III, VII, and VIII retain their cover on which the volume
number is expressly indicated. For Volumes IV, V, and VI we have no cover axl
no indication of volume number, only the title page. But the entry dales axl
other formal elements clearly indicate that they belong to the sequence.
(1) Vol. I - Cover: Chronicle ofDon Bosco from May 20, 1884 to May 6,
1885, Volume I. - Title Page: Chronicle of Don Bosco, by [Salesian]
17 Viglietti, Scrapbook-Style Collection 1886-1896, p. 79, "September 28,
1896," FDBM 1231 04.
18 For example Oesramaut has attempted a description of this editorial process in
Les Memorie I, op. cit., pp. 171-175, and in "Etudes prealable a une biographie de
saint Jean Bosco, Vill: La vieillesse (1884-1888)," Cahiers sa/esiens 18-19 (1988)
p. 80, note 66.
19 ASC 110: Cronachette-Viglietti, Cronaca di D. Bosco, FDBM 1222 02-1237
08.

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Seminarian Carlo Maria Viglietti, from May 20, 1884 to May 6, 1885 (pp. 1-
78).
Note: The first twelve entries, from May 20 to December 31, 1884 (pp. 1-4)
are crossed out, for Viglietti (so he states) has kept a separate memoir to
complement the daily record kept by Fathers Berto and Lemoyne. This separate
memoir may be the Additional Chronicle 1884-1885 described below.20
(2) Vol. II - Cover: Chronicle of Don Bosco from May 6, 1885 to March
1, 1886, Volume II. - Title Page: Chronicle of Don Bosco, by [Salesian]
Seminarian Carlo Maria Viglietti,from May 6, 1885 to March 1, 1886 (pp. 79-
150).
Note: The short entry for May 24, 1885 (pp. 82f.),21 is crossed out.
Viglietti explains: "The chief purpose of this chronicle is to keep a record of
events during Don Bosco's trips. Hence, when he is at home in Turin for a pro-
tracted stay I record events separately."
(3) Vol. III - Cover: Chronicle ofDon Bosco, Volume lll.from March 24,
1885 to April 14, 1886. - Title Page: Memoirs of Don Bosco, by [Salesian]
Seminarian Carlo Viglietti, from March 24, 1885 to April 14, 1886 (pp. 1-56
and 57-93).
Note: As Viglietti himself indicates, the entries March 24, 1885 to February
25, 1886 (pp. 1-56)22 are a repetition (to facilitate reading?) of the same period
in Volume II.
(4) [Vol. IV) - Title Page: Continuation of the Chronicle by Secretary
Carlo Viglietti, Barcelona, April 15, 1886 to May 16, 1886 (pp. 1-72).
(5) [Vol. VJ - Title Page: Continuation of the Chronicle by Secretary
Viglietti,from May 18, 1886 to January 20, 1887 (pp. 1-71).
(6) [Vol. VI) - Title Page: From January 23, 1887 to May 15, 1887,
Continuation of the Chronicle by Secretary Viglietti (pp. 3-83).
(7) Vol. VII - Cover: Chronicle of Don Bosco, from May 16, 1887 to
December 23, 1887, Vol. VII. - Title Page: From May 16, 1887 to December
23 , 1887, Continuation of the Chronicle by Father Carlo M. Viglietti, Secretary
(pp. 3-80).
(8) Vol. VIII - Cover: Chronicle of Don Bosco, from December 23, 1887
to January 31, 1888, Volume VIII. - Title Page: From December 23, 1887
to..., Continuation of the Chronicle of Don Bosco by Father Carlo M. Viglietti,
Secretary to Don Bosco (pp. 3-41).23
20 Cf. note 32 and related tex t, below.
21 FDBM 1223 Bl2.
22 FDBM 1223 E12-1224 C4.
23 The eight notebooks are in FDBM as follows: (1) 1222 02-1223 B7; (2) 1223
B8-E10; (3) 1223 Ell-1224 DlO; (4) 1224 011 -1225 Bll; (5) 1225 B12-E12; (6)
1226 Al-05; (7) 1226 07-1227 BlO; (8) 1227 Bll-08. It should be noted that each

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Journal of Saleslan Studies
[ii] Transcribed and Edited Chronicle 1884-188824
Bearing the same title as the original Cronaca di D. Bosco, the transcribed chron-
icle is in five notebooks, in Viglietti's and two other hands, with continuous
pagination, by an archivist (?).
However, Notebook III has what appears to be an "addition" which in-
terrupts the pagination (bearing no page numbers), but which continues the en-
tries in sequence. The "addition" is entitled, "Volume II, from May 18, 1886 to
January 3 1, 1888." This indication leads one to speculate that the transcribed
chronicle may have been meant to have a two-volume (or two-part) formal struc-
ture: Part I, presumably, from May 20, 1884 to May 15, 1886 (the end of the
Spanish trip); and Part II, as indicated, from May 18, 1886 to January 31, 1888
(Don Bosco's death). Hence, the present five-notebook structure may only be its
material format resulting from the fact that it filled five notebooks. Be that as it
may, for the practical purpose of referencing, the five-notebook format with its
continuous pagination may be retained, and the Volume II section (without page
numbers) may be treated as an addition to Notebook Ill. The transcribed chronicle
then appears to have the following format:
[I] [Volume I?]
(1) Notebook 1, in Viglietti's hand: Chronicle of Don Bosco, by [Salesian]
seminarian Carlo M. Viglietti.from May 20, 1884 - to March 1, 1886 (pp. 1-
160).
(2) Notebook 2, in Viglietti's hand: [Salesian] seminarian Carlo Maria
Viglielli, Chronicle of Don Bosco, Notebook 2, from March 12, 1886, Journey
to Spain - to April II, 1886 (pp. 161-2 17).
(3) Notebook 3, in a second, unidentified hand: Continuation of the
Chronicle of Don Bosco , Notebook 3. - Note: March 17, 1886-April 11, 1886
(pp. 220-252)25 are a repetition; then there follow in sequence April 13 - May
16, 1886 (pp. 253-315).
[II] Vol. II, addition to and continuation (with no page numbers) of
Notebook 3, in the same second hand: Chronicle ofDon Bosco, by Father Carlo
Maria Viglielli , Volume II.from May 18, 1886 to January 31, 1888: - This
section covers the period May 18, 1886 - May 8, 1887.
(4) Notebook 4: pp. 316-320 in the same second hand; pp. 320-327 in a
third, unidentified hand; pp. 327-409, again in the second hand: Notebook 4,
Continuation of the Chronicle of Don Bosco. - May 9, 1887-January 28, 1888
FDBM frame contains two pages of the small notebooks.
24 FDBM 1232 C5-1240 E2.
25 FDBM 1236 A8-D5.

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Don Bosco's Last Illness
33
(pp. 316-409). Note: The final eleven-line paragraph, where Don Bosco reminds
his secretary to go to confession, is in Viglietti's hand.
(5) Notebook 5, in the second hand: Ending ofthe Chronicle of Don Bosco ,
Notebook5. - January 29-31, 1888 (pp. 410-420).
There follow: a Conclusion (pp. 422-424); and an autobiographical
"author's preface" e ntitled, "A Word (Due Parole) to My Dear Superiors [...)"
(pp. 326-334).26
The Original Chronicle and the subsequent Transcribed and Edited Chronicle
constitute Viglietti's fundamental contribution to our knowledge of Don Bosco's
last years. As one would expect, the second work shows great improvement in
style, orthography, punctuation, e tc.; it also introduces additional material.
Obviously, this situation raises critical questions which need not detain us . For
the purposes of this essay I rely on the original work by preference because of
the immediacy of the eyewitness account. The quality of the writing here varies
from entry to entry, ranging from sustained discourse and neatly written text to
mere jottings. It is in fact, generally speaking, hasty, if not careless, writing;
but it is an eyewitness account close to the event. Referring to his activity as a
chronicler, Viglietti writes:
I have written this chronicle as truthfully as I could [...] I have related events
as they took place day by day. I set them down as I myself witnessed the m,
or as they were reported to me by Don Bosco or by others commissioned for
the purpose. If I am guilty of any misinterpretation, I beg your kind
indulgence. When traveling especially, the work kept us so busy during the
day that only late at night could I find the time to jot down a few notes. [...]
What has been set down in this chronicle, however, has been written by one
who by day and by night never left Don Bosco's side; by one who was privy
to all his secrets and who, therefore, can speak more knowledgeably than
many about what concerns this saintly man.27
[iii] Short Autobiographical Memoir
Entitled "Memorie," and already referred to above, this is a three-page
autobiographical account, ap~arently in Viglietti's hand, of how Don Bosco
c hose him to be his secretary. 8
26 The five notebooks are in FDBM as follows: (1) 1232 CS-1235 A9; (2) 1235
Al0-1236 A7; (3) 1236 D6-1237 D8+1237 09-1238 E7; (4) 1238 E8-1240 C4; (5)
1240 C5-D2+D3-5+D6-E2.
27 Viglietti, Transcribed and Edited Chronicle, "Conclusion," Notebook 5, pp.
422-424, FDBM 1240 D3-5.
28 FDBM 1232 C5-7. Cf. note 7 and related text, above.

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Journal of Saleslan Studies
This memoir also appears, practically word for word, as the introduction to
the Partial Calligraphic Chronicle 1884-1885 (listed below). Here the memoir
(pp. 1-5) is entitled: " Introduction. How and When Father Carlo Maria Viglietti
Was Chosen by the Venerable Don Bosco as His Secretary."29
[iv] Diary
Viglietti's "Diario" is not a diary or day-by-day record of Don Bosco's
doings, but is largely a collection of episodes, dreams, etc., dating from as far
back as Don Bosco's childhood, which Viglietti may have heard from Don Bosco
or from others.
This material was entered in a fairly small agenda-calendar book entitled "La
Rimembranza per l' anno 1880."
The title which Viglietti affixed on the cover is, "Diary, with [Appended]
Table of Contents, 1883, 1885." But his title page reads: "Memoirs by
[Salesian] Seminarian Carlo Viglietti, 1885."30 All the dated entries are from
1885.
The first entry (undated), on p. 27 of the printed agenda book, is the famous
"regimen" developed for Don Bosco for his health.31
There follows immediately the only true "chronicle" entry, dated July 15 ,
1885.
[v] Additional Chronicle 1884-8532
This is a fairly large, untitled notebook (pp. 1-98 and 116-119) in Viglietti's
hand, with a few entries by others.
A marginal note by an archivist at the beginning reads: "This notebook,
written by Father Carlo Viglietti, contains information and reports which he
may have heard from the saint himself. Father G. B. Lemoyne add:xl some items
in his own hand, cf. e.g. p. 96."
Lemoyne's writing appears in the additions found on p. 49,33 pp. 83f.,34
and pp. 96-98.35 There is also a small addition in a third hand, p. 98.36 There
29 FDBM 1247 A4-8.
JO Diario con indice de/le Materie 1883-1885; Memorie per Cura del ch. Viglietti
Carlo 1885, FDBM 1231 05-1232 C4.
3l FDBM 1231 08.
32 FDBM 1228 El-1230 C2.
33 FDBM 1229 C9.
34 FDBM 1230 A7f.
35 FDBM 1230 B8-10.
36 FDBM 1230 BIO.

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Don Bosco's Last Illness
35
follows a table of contents in Viglietti 's hand (with a different pagination, pp.
116-119).37
After two crossed-out [June-1884) entries, this chronicle begins with the
entry, "Year 1862" where Don Bosco's "prophecy" is recalled, that one of the
Salesians present would become a bishop - a prophecy now [1884] verified in
Cagliero."
Then there follows the first true chronicle entry (June 26, 1884) describing
the feast of St. Aloysius at Lanzo, at which the bishop-designate presided. For
the rest, the chronicle is really a series of episodes dating from various periods of
Don Bosco's life, gathered presumably under the date when they were heard.
[vi] Scrapbook -Style Collection 1886-189638
Lacking a title, this collection comprises a series of printed items: letters (by
Viglietti) and articles about Don Bosco published in various newspapers; the
printed text of Viglietti's chronicle of Don Bosco's last illness as published in
the Bollettino Salesiano with the title, "Diary of Don Bosco's Illness;" reviews
of Viglietti's later books, in which Viglietti seems to take much pride; and other
material. The items are usually introduced by dated introductory comments in
Viglietti's hand. The dated entries run from May 17, 1886 to September 28,
1896.
[vii] Partial Calligraphic Chronicle 1884-1885.39
This is a partial transcription in large calligraphy of the basic chronicle, with
some editing, for the years 1884 and 1885. The five-page "Introduction," has
been mentioned above. Each entry is given a summary title in a different calli-
graphic style. A detailed table of contents is added for easy consultation.
What purpose this elaborately written partial chronicle may have served is
not immediately evident.
Thus far Viglietti's records. In evaluating this information, often not at-
tested elsewhere, his character and personality are of some importance in deter-
mining the degree of confidence we should place in his reports. He was ebullient
to the point of passion, all heart and emotion. His attachment to Don Bosco was
at once that of an affectionate child, a devoted servant and a reverent worshipper.
Don Bosco's popularity, the tributes paid to him by the high and mighty, the
daily experience of the "extraordinary," leave the young secretary gasping in
wonder and praise. In reporting such experiences, especially on trips, his enthu-
siasm sometimes gains the upper hand. But Viglietti is demonstrably quite faith-
37 FDBM 1230 Bll-C2.
38 FDBM 1230 C12-1231 04.
39 FDBM 1247 A4-1250 03.

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Journal of Saleslan Studies
ful in reporting the words and the activities of the master. His chronicles consti-
tute irreplaceable documentation on Don Bosco's last years.
II. Pietro Giuseppe Enria and His Memoirs
Next in importance as a source for various periods of Don Bosco's life, but par-
ticularly for his final days, is Brother Pietro Enria's fairly extensive autobio-
graphical memoir. His story begins with recalling the circumstances in which,
in 1854, young Pietro and his brother Giovanni, orphaned by the cholera epi-
demic, were given shelter by Don Bosco at the Oratory. It ends with a narrative
of Don Bosco's last days and saintly death, as witnessed and recalled by Enria
himself, Don Bosco's devoted sick-room attendant. This last section is entitled,
"1887. Don Bosco's Last Illness."
1. Enria, Don Bosco's Sick-Room Attendant40
As he states in his memoir, Pietro Giuseppe Enria (1841-1898) was born in the
little town of San Benigno, not far from Turin. When he was little more than
seven years old, his mother died, and his father remarried. In 1852, the family
migrated to Turin, and prospered briefly till struck first by a malaria epidemic
and in 1854 by the cholera, which left Pietro and his brothers orphans. It is un-
der these circumstances that the child met Don Bosco, when the latter visited the
temporary orphanage which the Society of St. Vincent de Paul had set up. Enria
touchingly relates how Don Bosco picked him and his younger brother out of the
line of orphans and brought them to the Oratory. He was never to leave Don
Bosco. At first Don Bosco placed him with an employer in one of the city's
workshops, but after the establishment of workshops at the Oratory Enria
worked "at home."41 Eventually he was employed in the Salesian supplies depot
run by Brother Giuseppe Rossi, but he also took leadership roles in the activities
of the Oratory, as band musician, stage manager, cook, painter, etc. He was al-
ways in demand for his practical skills.
More significant for the object of this essay is the fact that he was Don
Bosco's attendant through all his major illnesses in the seventies and eighties.
When Don Bosco took ill at Varazze in 1871 , he expressly sent for Enria to at-
tend him through the two-month siege. In a number of letters written to Brother
Giuseppe Buzzelli and to others, as well as later in his memoir, Enria describes
40 A short biographical sketch is to be found in Eugenio Ceria, Profili di 3 3
Coadiutori Salesiani (Colle Don Bosco: Libreria Dottrina Cristiana, 1952), pp. 79 -
95, and, based on this, in the Dizionario Biografico dei Salesiani, p. 116. Ceria drew
on Enria's own autobiographical memoir.
41 Enria, Memoir, pp. 1-23, FDBM 932 012.

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Don Bosco's Last Illness
37
his patient's symptoms and condition day by day.42 These reports permit doctors
today to venture a diagnosis.
Again Enria attended Don Bosco in his two or three-week illness at
Sampierdarena in April 1878. Enria had been stationed there at the time. Don
Bosco expressed his gratitude in the most affectionate terms.43
In autumn, 1878, Enria was part of the team that founded the Salesian
school at Este, and it was there that he made his religious profession and became
de jure what he had always been de f acto, Brother Enria.
But Enria's most devoted service to Don Bosco was rendered during the
latter's final illness. To this he dedicated the last section of his memoir.
The father's death seemed to forecast the son's own decline. In an appendix
to his memoir, he relates that in 1890 he was assigned to attend Salesian
seminarian Augustus Czartoryski who was ill with tuberculosis at Lugano,
Switzerland. Enria felt extremely depressed, and then he fell ill himself with an
ailment of the spinal column. Almost immecliately he lost the use of his right
hand. The hotel personnel put him to bed. It was then that he prayed to Don
Bosco and eventually got better.44 He was already a sick man. He died of a cere-
bra-spinal ailment, in great physical and mental pain, in 1898. But it was during
this period that he rendered his beloved master his fi nal service: he testified in the
process of Don Bosco's beatification;45 and at Father Giovanni Battista
Lemoyne's request, he penned his memoir.
2. Enria's Memoir
The Enria files in the "chronicles" section of the Salesian Archives (ASC 110)
contain a number of memoirs.
(1) There is a four-page fragment beginning with the words, "In 1854."46
(2) A notebook of 95 pages (6 unnumbered pages followed by pages 1-89),
records events up to the Varazze illness (1872).47 A first, "aborted" beginning
42 Enria, Memoir ("Don Bosco's Illness at Varazze in 1871"), pp. 99- 169,
FDBM 934 C2-935 C12; and ASC 112: Malanie, Varazze, FDBM especially, 430
01 2-43 1 E12; 433 Bl0-12, 010-El ; 434 Al -2, A7-B2.
43 Enria, Memoir, pp. 185-196, FDBM 935 E4-936 A3.
44 Enria, Memoir, pp. 289-292, FDBM 937 Cl 2-D3.
45 Brother Pietro Enria appeared as the fourteen th witness in January-February
1893 [cf. Pietro Stella, Don Bosco nella sloria della religiosila callolica. Vol. ill: LJ:z
Canonizzazione (1888-1934) (Roma: LAS, 1988), p. 119]. For this purpose he
prepared an extensive wrillen deposition [in ASC 110: Cronachette, Enria, FDBM
938 C6-939 CS] .
46 FDBM 931 Al2-B3.
47 FDBM 931 B4-932 01 1.

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Journal of Salesian Studies
reads: "I, Pietro Giuseppe Enria [...];" the second and real beginning reads: "In
1854 [...)."
(3) A 26-page partial memoir of Don Bosco's last days begins with, "1887,
April 20," but remains incomplete.48
(4) A composite memoir, of 27 pages numbered in Roman numerals
contains an account of Don Bosco's recovery from the illness at Varau.e (1872)
and of his subsequent triumphal reception in Turin (pp. l-XVI),49 followed by a
description of"Don Bosco's Last Days" (pp. XVII-XXVIl).50
(5) These partial memoirs were probably rough drafts for the 285-page
memoir which begins with the words, "Pietro Giuseppe Enria, born on [...],"
and which spans the years 1854-1888.51 This is Enria's finished Memoir. It is
not a chronicle, nor is it a diary written as the events unfolded. It is a series of
recollections which he painfully set down at Father Lemoyne's urging in
1893.52 In autobiographical style, he first describes how Don Bosco took him in
when the cholera raged in the city. He goes on to write about life in the Oratory
as he witnessed it; then Don Bosco becomes the real focus of the story. The
largest and most important sections of the narrative are devoted to Don Bosco's
illnesses, during which (beginning with 1871) Enria attended him. As mentioned
above, the last portion (pp. 234-285) of the memoir is devoted to Don Bosco's
last illness and death, and is entitled, " 1887. The Last Illness."53 This is
followed by a kind of appendix entitled, "Events Which Occurred after Don
Bosco's Death" (pp. 287-292), recording two graces received, the second one
(referred to above) in Enria's own behalf.54
Looking superficially at the pages of this memoir, and comparing it with
earlier partial drafts , one is impressed with the neatness of the script and the near-
total lack of corrections. Enria must have labored hard and long at this project,
for writing must have been difficult for a person with hardly any education.
When one begins to delve, the author's ineptness in every department of literacy
becomes all too evident, a situation which becomes a severe trial for the transla-
tor. But there is force and inspiration throughout. This is especially true of the
last portion, the eyewitness account of Don Bosco's last illness and holy saintly
death. These pages are a veritable outpouring of filial piety, tender love,
48 FDBM 937 03-938 A4.
49 FDBM 938 A5-B8.
50 FDBM 938 B9-C5.
51"Enria Pietro Giuseppe nato il [ ...}," FDBM 932 012-937 C8.
52 Ceria, Profili di 33 coadiutori salesiani, op. cit., p. 94.
53 "1887. Ultima Malattia," FDBM 936 08-937 C8.
54 FDBM 938 C9-D2; and cf. note 44 and related text, above.

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Don Bosco's Last Illness
39
worshipful reverence, almost abject humility, and eternal gratitude. Above all,
Enria's account enlarges and deepens our knowledge of Don Bosco.55
III. Antonio Sala and His Memoir
1. A Word about the Man56
Antonio Sala (1836-1895) was born into a well-to-do home. The Sala family
owned a textile mill of which Antonio became manager in his twenties. But in
1863, at the age of 27, he decired to join Don Bosco and the Salesians. 'The
gentle giant," as he came to be known, immediately fell in love with the Spartan
life style of the Oratory, with the young people, and with Don Bosco in particu-
lar. He was ordained in 1869, and then attended the conferences in moral theol-
ogy at the pastoral institute known as the Convitto. In 1875 Don Bosco ap-
pointed him assistant to the financial administrator of the Society, whom he
succeeded in 1880. In these capacities he supervised important building projects,
particularly, the building of the church of St. John the Evangelist in Turin
(1878-1882) and that of the Sacred Heart in Rome (1884-1888).
It was precisely from this last assignment that he was recalled to assist Don
Bosco when the latter fell terminally ill at the end of 1887. Sala writes to open
his memoir:
On December 29, 1887 I left Rome[...] in response to a telegram worded as
follows: "Come without delay. Don Bosco is ill." The evening of December
30 I was at the patient's bedside. Don Bosco recognized me. [...] [I said:]
"Here I am, completely at your beck and call; and I will deem it a great good
fortune if I can be of service to you." "Yes," Don Bosco replied, "I am
happy [that you came]. Now poor dear Viglietti here can have some relief."
From that day until his death, I remained on call to go to his room at any
time, by day or by night. I might be needed to help move him from one 1xxl
55 Enria's chief memoir has already received some attention in the pages of this
journal: cf. Michael Ribotta, "Peter Enria Remembers," Journal of Salesian Studies
3:2 (1992) pp. 93-108. There, a brief biographical account is followed by an Eng lish
adaptation, with plenty of editing, of the initial section of the memoir and of two
further episodes. Only a general reference is given to the Salesian Archives: "AS 110
Enria, autogr." Specifically, Ribotta's initial section corresponds to Enria, Memoir,
pp. 1-24 [FDBM 932 D12-933 All], a section which may be found transcribed in
Pietro Stella, Don Bosco nella storia economica e socia/e 1815-1870 (Roma: LAS,
1980), pp. 494-506. The two further episodes correspond to pp. 65-69 and pp. 56-58
of the memoir, respectively [FDBM 933 E4-8 and 933 D7-9). These excerpts afford
no more than a glimpse into Enria's mighty work.
56 Biographical data are derived from Eugenio Ceria, Profili dei capitolari
salesiani morti dal/'anno 1865 al 1950 (Colle Don Bosco: LDC, 1951), pp. 153-162.
Cf. also Dizionario Biografico dei Salesiani, p. 250.

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Journal of Salesian Studies
to another, or again I might take my tum at waiting on him, which I was
very happy to do.57
It was out of this experience that Sala penned his brief memoir. But he continued
his service to Don Bosco even after the latter's death. For it was Father Sala who
negotiated with a hostile city council to have Don Bosco entombed in a special
shrine in the Salesian school of Valsalice.
After Don Bosco's death, Father Sala returned to the affairs of the Society
wilh undiminished vigor. But a general physical deterioration due to premature
aging claimed his life in 1895.
2. Sala's Memoir58
This nine-page manuscript in Sala's own hand was apparently written in haste
wilh no attention given to correctness of language or beauty of style. It is in fact
very hard to read.
The initial note, already referred to above, specifies the date on which Sala
took up his sick-room duties (December 30 , 1887). This is followed by a dozen
episodes, some of which are peculiar to this memoir. They also record some
witty quips of Don Bosco and some precious words of his not attested elsewhere.
Thus, the literary defects are amply compensated by the fact that, as Sala
indicates, everylhing was written out of direct, personal experience.
Lillie need be said about lhe remaining archival sources and their authors. A note
will suffice.
IV. Francesco Cerruti and His Memoir59
Francesco Cerruti (1844-1917), a pupil at the Oratory school in 1856 and a
companion of [Saint] Dominic Savio, became a Salesian in 1862. After
obtaining academic degrees, he served as director and provincial of the houses in
Liguria. In 1885, he was appointed by Don Bosco general councilor for schools
and served in tha t capacity until his dealh in 19 17. He is credited with putting
the Salesian school program on a professional basis in Italy and elsewhere.
His very brief, five-page memoir on Don Bosco's last illness contains only
three entries,60 the last of which, dated December 30, 1887, and chiefly devoted
57 Sala, Memoir, pp. lf. in ASC 110: Sala, FDBM 1222 C5f.
58 ASC 110: Sala, FDBM 1222 C5-Dl.
59 Biographical data derived from Eugenio Ceria, Profili dei capitolari, op. c it .,
pp. 232-255. Cf. Renato Ziggiotti, Don Francesco Cerruti (Torino: SEI, 1949); and
Dizionario Biografico dei Salesiani, p. 82.
60 ASC 110: Cerruti, FDBM 963 AS-12.

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41
to a visit by Cardinal Gaetano Alimonda, archbishop of Turin, is of special
interest.
V. Father Michele Rua's Reports
Father Rua, Don Bosco's vicar with right of succession since 1884, was perhaps
the person most concerned with Don Bosco's condition, and was a constant visi-
tor to Don Bosco's sick room. During the last crisis in particular, he was con-
stantly at his side and assisted the founder in imparting a last blessing.
He did not leave a memoir or chronicle, but during the first crisis of late
December 1887 and early January 1888, he sent out a number of bulletins or re-
ports to the confreres on Don Bosco's condition in the form of circular letters.
These eight rather brief calligraphic letters are dated December 26, 27, 28, 29,
30, and 31, 1887; January 2 and 5, 1888.61
Also of interest is a bulletin on Don Bosco's condition, in French, dated
December 31, 1887.62
These reports take us throug h the crisis of late December, when Don Bosco
was despaired of, into the period of his amazing (but illusory) recovery. I am not
aware that any bulletins were issued to the confreres during Don Bosco's final
crisis in late January, 1888. None are found in the archives.
VI. Dr. Giovanni Albertotti and His Biography of Don Bosco
In 1929 a unique biography of Don Bosco saw the light of day. It was entitled,
"Who Was Don Bosco? A Biographical Sketch of Don Bosco Written from a
Physical, Psychological and Pathological Standpoint by his physician, Dr.
Giovanni Albertotti, and published by the physician's son Giuseppe
Albertotti."63
Dr. Giovanni Albertotti (1824-1906), was a graduate of the medical school
of the University of Turin. After service as physician and surgeon during the
First War of Italian Independence (1848-1849), and many years of general
practice, in 1871 he was offered the post of resident physician and psychiatrist at
Turin's mental hospital, that is, the "lunatic asylum" located but a couple of
blocks from the Oratory. In the seventies he also held an assistant professorship
61 ASC 112: Malattie, FDBM 437 08, 9, 10, 11, and 12; El, 3, and 5, re-
spectively.
62 ASC 112: Malattie, FDBM 437 E2.
63 Chi era Don Bosco?, ossia Biografia fisio-psico-patologica di Don Bosco,
scritta dal suo medico Dott. Albertotti Giovanni, pubblicata dal figlio Giuseppe
Albenotti (Genova: Poligrafica San Giorgio, 1929) 100 pages (Giuseppe's
introduction, pp. 7-29; Giovanni's text, pp. 33-100), in ASC 123: Persone in re-
lazione con Don Bosco, Albertotti, FDBM 532 BJ -533 DIO.

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Journal of Salesian Studies
in psychiatry at the university. As he related to his son, the job at the mental
hospital was not very demanding and he had a lot of time on his hand. In fact he
was considering returning to general practice. Then he discovered the Oratory,
and thus began his life-long relationship with Don Bosco and the Salesians as a
physician and a devoted friend. As he describes it, toward the end of July 1871,
while on a stroll in the area, he happened by the Oratory at the time of the boys'
recreation and was curious enough to inquire about that institution. Father
Giuseppe Lazzero, vice-director at the time, satisfied his curiosity. Dr. Albertotti
began to visit the Oratory intermittently until 1875, at which time, for a
nominal sum, he became house physician for both the Salesians and the Salesian
Sisters next-door. He then began regular daily visits.64 It was natural that Don
Bosco, after his recovery from the Varazze illness in 1872, should become the
object of Albertotti's special concern. It was likewise natural, that Albertotti
should be the physician in attendance during Don Bosco's subsequent illnesses,
the last one in particular. Father Rua, however, did not neglect to engage other
physicians for continuous consultation.65
64 Albertotti, Chi era Don Bosco?, as reported by his son in the Introduction,
pp. 9-12.
65 The physicians who attended Don Bosco in a consultative, but very important
role were Giuseppe Fissore (from 1871), Celestino Vignolo-Lutati (through the
eighties), and to a lesser degree Tommaso Bestente (during the last illness). Ors.
Fissore and Vignolo, specialists in their fields, appear to hold center stage during
Don Bosco's last illness.
Giuseppe Fissore was "professor of internal medicine at the University of Turin
and one of the most esteemed physicians in the city" [Albertotti, Chi era Don
Bosco?, p. 79, FDBM 533 Cl]. In 1871, when Don Bosco fell critically ill at
Varazze, Father Rua, to leave nothing undone, had gone right to the top and had en-
gaged him for consultations with the local practitioner, Dr. Carattini. During the last
illness, Dr. Fissore assumed an increasingly important role; he appears in fact to
have been the spokesman for the medical team.
Celestino Vignolo-Lutati (1838-1924) was closely associated with the Salesians
(the name also appears as Vignola-Luzzati, but mostly simply as Vignolo). The
Vignolos were related to the Vigliettis. Don Bosco's secretary, Carlo Maria Viglietti,
was in fact Dr. Vignolo's nephew. Don Bosco was on friendly terms with both
families. But what is most significant is that Dr. Vignolo was a specialist in the field
of bronchio-pulmonary diseases. A professional journal speaks of him as "the
leading medical specialist of his time, and inspector of health services for all the
hospitals in Turin."
Tommaso Bestente (Bestenti) had been a student at the Oratory in 1866- 1867;
but on going through medical school he had abandoned religious practice. In 1881,
Don Bosco met him at Turin's general hospital (where Bestente was a resident
physician), recognized him, invited him to dinner, and "brought him back." During
Don Bosco's last illness Dr. Bestente seems to have played a minor role, for he was
the junior physician on the team. But, being a physician of the city's public health
office, he was instrumental in obtaining the permit for Don Bosco's special burial at

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Don Bosco's Last Illness
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As far as the biography is concerned, one may at once discount Albertotti's
psychological interpretations, for his training in psychology-psychiatry had been
in the materialistic tradition. He also came under the influence of his
contemporary, Dr. Cesare Lombroso, Professor of forensic medicine, psychiatry,
and criminal anthropology in Turin. Albertotti shared Lombroso's theory that
human behavior (especially criminal behavior) is the product of heredity,
atavism, and degeneracy. Thus, his interpretations of Don Bosco's life experi-
ences and condition tend to stress physical causes.66
But other aspects of the biography, such as his evaluation of Don Bosco's
state of health, of the nature of the illness, etc., and his comments on Don
Bosco' s physical condition, are obviously of great interest.
The foregoing is merely a description, claiming no critical status, of the chief
archival sources pertinent to our inquiry. These sources will now serve as the
basis for a brief survey of the period of Don Bosco's quasi-retirement, the last
three-and-a-half years of his life. Viglietti's Original Chronicle is our basic
source. Enria's Memoir is also relevant. The other sources, however, are chiefly
concerned with Don Bosco's last illness. As already indicated, it is not my pur-
pose to attempt a biographical reconstruction of this period in Don Bosco's life.
While a framework must necessarily be provided, the focus will be on the more
personal aspects and events; and these will be presented, as far as possible, in the
chroniclers' very words.
Part II. Don Bosco's Bouts with Illness and the
Years of His Decline
I. Antecedent Medical History
Don Bosco was seriously, even critically, ill numerous times during his life. In
a long and fairly detailed passage of the Biographical Memoirs, Father Lemoyne
Valsalice. [For the above, cf. also Michele Molineris, Vita episodica di Don Bosco
(Castelnuovo Don Bosco: ISBS, 1874), pp. 421-432.)
66 In this vein, he writes: "Genetically Don Bosco was blessed with a rather
strong physical constitution. His cranial type, the type prevalent in the region of
Piedmont, was brachiocephalic. The early development of the cerebro-spinal system
as well as of the muscular system, which he inherited principally from his mother,
[...] was a determining factor. " And he gives Don Bosco's cranial measurements:
"Cranial circumference: 550 mm. [21.65 in.]; posterior basal diameter: 190 mm.
[7.48 in.]; transverse basal diameter: 170 mm. [6.7 in.] ; a considerable degree of
oxycephaly" [Albertotti, Chi era Don Bosco?, pp. 80 and 98, FDBM 533 C2 and D8].
"Oxycephaly" is a parietal deformity producing some kind of pointed effect at the top
of the head.

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Journal of Salesian Studies
speaks of Don Bosco's life-long fight against illness.67 Referring to his practice
of reading late into the night when a student at Chieri, Don Bosco himself writes
without further explanation: "This practice so ruined my health that for some
years I seemed to have one foot in the grave."68 But the episodes of 1846 and of
1871 , both of which nearly proved fatal, are well documented. The illness of
1846 climaxed a protracted struggle against a condition characterized by symp-
toms associated with the respiratory system: weakness, chest pains, blood-
stained sputum, intermittent temperatures. This was during the trying time of
the wandering oratory. It finally developed into that near-fatal bronchitis-pneu-
monia which forced him out of oratory work for several months.69 The most se-
rious relapse since the illness of 1846 was the Varazze illness of 1871-1872, a
siege of nearly two months. Enria's documentation shows this illness to have
been a complex conjunction of various diseases, rheumatic seizure, miliary fever,
boils, etc. But Enria's reports, tend to show that the chief component, and in all
likelihood the root cause, of this complicated condition was bronchio-pul-
monary.70 There were relapses in 1875 and 1878, the latter of which, of two or
three weeks' duration, was serious enough to require Enria's ministrations.71
II. The Crises of 1884
The just-mentioned relapses suffered after the illness of 1871 were not regarded as
critical. The crises of 1884, on the other hand, signaled the beginning of the in-
exorable slide toward the end, for his whole system was so affected that the con-
dition became irreversible. Since 1871, and probably as a result of that illness,
there had developed a gradually crippling spinal ailment and a very painful ed>
matous swelling in the lower limbs. To aggravate the situation, the pressure of
constant work and worry continued unrelieved till nearly the end. True, he was
no longer embroiled with Archbishop Lorenzo Gastaldi, and was now apparently
enjoying a period of peace. He had the full support and enjoyed the high esteem
of the local Church authority, Cardinal Archbishop Gaetano Alimonda in partic-
ular. He was moreover comforted by the filial love of many sons and sure of the
support of many devoted followers. But Don Bosco still labored under the con-
stan t pressure of num erous concerns: the work in South America, financial bur-
dens, the privileges withheld, fear for the future of the Congregation, to mention
but a few.
67 f Biographical Memoirs, English Edition], pp. 15lf.
68 f Memoirs of the Oratory, English Edition], p. 108.
69 EBM IT, pp. 380-387. Cf. also the letter of the Marchioness Barolo to Father
Giovanni Borel, May 18, 1846 [EBM II, p. 360).
70 For Enria's reports on the progress of this illness, cf. note 42 and related text,
above.
71 For Enria 's report, cf. note 43 and related text, above; and EBM XI, p. 372.

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1. February 1884
The year 1884 was decisive. The onset of a first and more serious crisis occurred
in February, 1884.72 The Salesians close to Don Bosco were very much alarmed;
he himself apparently did not expect to recover. On February 8 , he included in
his Spiritual Testament a list of outstanding benefactors, with messages to be
delivered to them after his demise.73 Almost immediately he became critically ill
with bronchitis. Again, the symptoms recorded were, extreme weakness, chest
pains, blood-stained sputum, weakened heartbeat and low pulse. The doctors
insisted on bed rest. In writing to Claire Louvet at this time, Don Bosco
admitted to being in bad heallh, and complained particularly of chest pains.74
2. Journey to France and Dr. P.·M. Combal 's Diagnosis
Don Bosco, however, after treatment and bed rest, did "recover," and against all
advice, on March 1, 1884, he undertook a fund-raising journey through southern
France.
It was during his stay in Marseilles, on March 25, 1884, that Don Bosco
was visited by the renowned Dr. P.-M. Combat, summoned for the purpose from
Montpellier, presumably by Father Paul Albera. Dr. Combat's diagnosis and
prescription, the French original of which is preserved in the Salesian
Archives,75 confirm earlier opinions:
Reverend Don Bosco's medical history as related by him to me, and my own
examination of the patient, enable me to give the following opinion. He is
suffering from a condition, the pathology of which is both general and local.
A. Several general elements should be noted.
(1) A generalized weakened condition with anemia.
72 As noted earlier, the chief archival source for this period is Lemoyne's Ricordi
di Gabinelto [cf. note 4 and related tex t, above]. which is not available to me. Mos t
of this material was included by Lemoyne in Documenli, and later edited by Ceria in
the Biographical Memoirs [IBM XVII, pp. 27-35].
73 Memorie dal 1841 al 1884-5-6 [ ...],pp. 17-22 and 11 7-127, in ASC 132:
Taccuini, FDBM 748 E9-749 A2 and 749 E l -12. Cf. Francesco Motto, Memorie dal
1841 al 1884-5-6 pel Sac. Gio. Bosco a' suoi figliuoli salesiani (Tes tamento
Spirituale) (Roma: Las, 1985), pp. 25-29 and 44-47. February 8, 1884 was the origi-
nal date indicated by Don Bosco, later corrected to 1885. For the bequeathal of the
Testamenl by Don Bosco during his last illness, cf. note 169 and related text, below.
74 Letter of February 14, 1884 in IBM XVI, p. 655. Mademoiselle Claire Louvet
of Lille, France, was an outstanding benefactress of the Salesian work. Don Bosco
wrote some sixty letters to her, cf. I BM XVI, pp. 641 -671 and John Itzaina,
"Charitable Mademoiselle [...]," Journal of Salesian Studies 1:1 (1 990) 35-46.
75 ASC 112: Malattie, FDBM 437 B9- 12.

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Journal of Saleslan Studies
(2) A flux deviation in the mucous areas of the respiratory system.76
(3) Erethesis of the nervous system.77
(4) Possible remnants of a marsh fever infection.
B. Local elements, too, are present
(5) Some irritation of the mucous areas of the bronchi resulting from
repeated flux deviation.
(6) Finally, a slight enlargement of the liver.
Based on these findings, a treatment might be put into effect in
accordance with the following prescription:
(1) Ta1cing a tablespoonful of Vial wine immediately before morning
and evening meals (calcium phosphate, meat and quinine).78
(2) Ta1cing half a glass of Vais [mineral] water from the Dominique
spring, mixed with wine, during meals.
(3) Ensuring regularity by taking at intervals (once a week at bed time)
a teaspoon of Dr. Soubigou' s laxative Vichy powder in one-fourth of a glass
of water.
(4) Adopting a mixed diet of boiled meat and vegetables, soft-boiled
eggs, dairy foods.
(5) Replacing the Vais water drunk at meals with La Bourboule
[mineral] water, for ten days each month.
(6) Refraining for a length of time from the usual occupations, lnl
above all avoiding the tension arising from prolonged [occupational]
pressure .
As may be seen, Dr. Combal prescribed a light, lean diet, joined with a fairly
complex regimen of tonic, diuretic and laxative remedies. These palliatives
would certainly not have availed in curing "the flux deviation in the mucous ar-
eas of the respiratory system." In any case, it is unlikely that Don Bosco, given
his traditional peasant's skepticism about doctors and medicines, would have un-
dertaken such an elaborate dietary program. Further, the doctor especially rec-
ommended taking a vacation from occupational pressures, a piece of advice that
ran contrary to Don Bosco's basic idea of his own responsibilities.79
76 This expression means an inflammation or damage in the bronchial alveoli
tending to prevent the proper processing of the blood. This is bronchial emphysema.
Hence the "bronchial irritation" stated in Number (5).
77 "Erethesis" means excessive irritation of the nervous system affecting vital
organs.
78 The "meat" (viande) in this preparation is probably tamarind paste.
79 Dr. P.-M. Combal's (1814-1888) visit of Don Bosco in 1884 was not to be
his last. On the journey back from Spain in 1886, Don Bosco stopped at Montpellier
for a few days, apparently to see Dr. Combal, for there was no Salesian work there.
Father Rua, who was Don Bosco's companion, may have suggested the layover.
Viglietti reports that Dr. Combal (with his family ) paid visits to Don Bosco on the

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3. September 1884
The crisis of February 1884 had raised fears in Salesian and Church authorities
alike. The way Don Bosco dragged himself around in Rome during his sojourn
there in April-May drew the Roman authorities' attention to his physical decline.
As Don Bosco himself later reported to his council when discussing the ap-
pointment of a vicar, Pope Leo XIII had remarked: "Your health is bad; you reed
help and you need to have an assistant at your side [...)."80 This eventually led to
the appointment of Father Rua as vicar with right of succession.
Meanwhile, September 14, 1884, marked the onset of a second serious
crisis. Don Bosco was forced Lo leave the spiritual retreat in progress at
Valsalice, return to the Oratory, and talce to his bed with a painful swelling in
his legs and feet. The sources speak of erysipelas, an acute inflammation of the
skin.SI But the more likely cause was the chronic bronchial condition with its
evenings of May 7, 8 and 9. Of this last visit Viglieui writes: "Dr. Combal called and
examined Don Bosco in bed, and the visit lasted one hour. Later he said to me: 'In my
opinion, the fact that Don Bosco is still alive is the greatest of miracles. Here we
have a man who is literally "dead-tired" but who continues to work day in and day out,
while taking very little nourishment. He is nonetheless alive"' [Viglietti, Original
Chronicle, Vol. IV, p. 62, FDBM 1225 B6].
80 Council session of Oct. 23, 1884, Minutes by Father Lemoyne, Vol. I, p. 45.
FDBM 188 1 03.
81 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, p. 3, September 14, 1884, FDBM 1222 D5. In
his Transcribed and Edited Chronicle, Viglieui adds that someone had suggested
dabbing Don Bosco's leg with an ointment, and relates an episode which led to Father
Berto (who was suffering from a kind of mental illness) being ousted as Don Bosco 's
attendant:
Turin, September 14, 1884, continued. - I feel I should add the following
episode for the record. I did not include it earlier [in the Original Chronicle] for
fear of hurting poor Father Berto. But it does our dear Father Don Bosco much
credit. Don Bosco got to the Oratory from Valsalice at about 5 P.M. Father Berto
was not on speaking terms with Don Bosco at the time and he happened to be in
a vile temper besides. He demanded to examine our poor patient's swollen leg
and asked me how the ailment was to be treated. Then without further ado he took
some oil of wintergreen (giusquiamo) and began to rub Don Bosco's leg
vigorously. Standing outside in the gallery, I could hear Don Bosco telling
Father Berto very gently: "Father Berto, that hurts; please stop, you are hurting
me." But Father Berto paid no attention and went on with the senseless proce-
dure. At half past six, Dr. Fissore called and, when he had taken a look at the leg,
said to Don Bosco quite bluntly: "Who on earth did this? You had better get rid of
that ass... of an attendant, or you will not see me again." Don Bosco kept quiet;
but I could not refrain from telling the Reverend Father Sala, the fin anci al
administrator. Father Sala told me that the general council had decided to get
Father Berto away from Don Bosco, because the poor man suffered from neurosis.

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Journal of Saleslan Studies
related blood disorders. Whatever the cause, the condition was so serious that the
general council had raised the question of Don Bosco's death. In the session of
September 19, presided over by Father Rua, the discussion dealt matter-of-factly
with Don Bosco's funeral and eventual place of burial.82
III. The Period of Quasi-Retirement and Decline
(1885-1887)
Don Bosco, however, after bed rest and a period of convalescence, did again
"recover." In early 1885, 1886, and 1887 he undertook three extensive journeys:
one to southern France and another to Spain (Barcelona), both, for the purpose of
raising funds and strengthening the work in those countries; and a third to Rome,
for the consecration of the church of the Sacred Heart. During this period
Viglietti, who was Don Bosco's constant companion, recorded Don Bosco's
words and activity faithfully and perceptively. He was especially attentive to Don
Bosco's state of health and to the ups and downs to which he was subject. There
was no crisis such as a grave or near-fatal illness. There was only a pervasive
weakness, an accumulation of ailments, and a progressive physical deterioration.
Sheer will-power, however, and the goals he set for himself on behalf of the
work saw him through.
Speaking of Don Bosco's physical condition at this time, specifically of the
swelling in his lower limbs and of his spinal ailment, Dr. Albertotti writes:
This painful swelling had been developing at least since 1853, and its
probable cause lay in a thrombosis suffered in consequence of the bronchial
He had in fact come up to Father Berto's room to speak to him about the matter,
but Father Berto had slammed the door in his face. Father Sala then enlisted the
help of four strong Jay brothers and told them what had to be done. They waited
till half past seven, the time of the first dinner seating, which Father Berto was
in the habit of attending. Then they forced the lock on the door to his room,
went in, and by means of ropes they lowered the contents of the room three
stories down to the courtyard: the cabinets containing the archive files, the bed,
and Father Berto's other belongings. From the courtyard they moved everything
to a room in the building which housed the print shop. Then a new lock was put
in for the old room and the door locked. The men moved so quickly that by eight
o'clock the deed was done. (Later Father Rua moved into Father Berto's old room,
and I was given the room which now serves as chapel.) When Father Berto
discovered the switch, he rushed up to Don Bosco's rooms and began shouting
and pounding on the door. Don Bosco from his bed of pain could hear his poor
friend shouting and was so sorry for him. He said to me: "Poor Father Berto is
sick. Take care to show him love and all due respect. He worked very hard for Don
Bosco!" [Viglietti, Transcribed and Edited Chronicle, pp. 19-21, FDBM 1232
011 -E l] .
82 ASC 0592 0592: Cons. Sup. Verbali, Lemoyne I. p. 35, FDBM 1881 B9.

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disease contracted a few years earlier. The swelling worsened steadily m
became critical with the near-fatal [Varazze] illness of 1871, which was
probably responsible for the onset of nephritis. It was further aggravated by
a chronic intestinal infection accompanied by diarrhea. [...]
The weakening of the spine may have been in effect as far back as
December 6, 1871. This was the [Varazze] illness in which a variety of
conditions already present, chiefly rheumatic and cardio-pulmonary in nature,
were aggravated. As a result the edematous swelling in the lower limbs was
also increased. This scenario provides a satisfactory explanation for Don
Bosco's condition. The central nervous system first, and then gradually the
vital organs, chiefly lungs, heart and kidneys, began to be affected in the
illness of 1846, and suffered further deterioration in the illness of 1871, a
condition which became progressively worse and finally took his life. It was
at first a slow-paced deterioration. By the eighties his body had become a
walking pathology laboratory, but one which left his brilliant mind
unimpaired and which could not stymie his desire and active striving toward
his glorious goal.83
1. The Trip to Southern France in Early 1885
In late March, Don Bosco left Turin for Sampierdarena, the first stop on his way
to France. Viglietti writes: "Don Bosco is very cheerful and is feeling quite
welJ. "84
The trip was a success, but it was also, at every stage, a test of Don Bosco's
physical stamina. An entry of the chronicle at Marseilles, the farthest point
reached, sums up the situation.
What I admire most in Don Bosco is the extraordinary virtue with which he
hides his painful infirmities. At times the pain is very intense and he suffers
visibly. But when he cannot hide the pain externally, he smiles and says:
"The show must go on: Don Bosco is out of money!"85
At the conference of Salesian Cooperators in Marse illes,
Don Bosco was the first to speak, and his words moved everyone to tears.
He said that he did not stand before them to deliver a long speech. In the
first place, his ill health prevented him from doing so; then, a much more
83 Albertotti, Chi era Don Bosco?, pp. 78 and 82f., ASC 112: Malanie, FDBM
533 B12 and C4f. Thrombosis is the coagulation of blood in a blood-vessel.
Nephritis is an inflammation of the kidneys.
84 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. I, p. 5, "March 24, 1885, Sampierdarena,"
FDBM 1222 D6.
85 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. I p. 44, "Marseilles, April 13, 1885,"
FDBM 1223 A2.

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Journal of Salesian Studies
eloquent speaker was on hand for the purpose. He simply wished to thank
God and, next to him, the Cooperators for their charity and generosity. [...]
He had no means of knowing, he continued, whether or not this would be
his last visit with them. He might be called by God into eternity. Should
that be the case, and should God indeed take him to himself in heaven, his
first thought would be to pray Jesus and Mary and all the saints to bless nl
protect all those who have contributed to the salvation of so many souls.86
Toward the end of the trip, Don Bosco was forced to scale down his activity. In
Nice, with Father [Giuseppe] Ronchail, Father [Pierre] Perrot, and Viglietti, he
was the dinner guest of the Catholic Men's Association, "the choicest nobility
of Nice," as Viglietti remarks. "Because of his ailments, Don Bosco was not oc-
cepting individual invitations. He was thus making them all happy by meeting
them as a group."87
Back in Italy, Don Bosco and his secretary, leaving Alassio for
Sampierdarena, were late for the train, and the station master delayed the train's
departure. "Don Bosco was running;" writes the secretary, "I have not seen him
so limber in a long time. And was he cheerful! He turned to me and said:
'Viglietti, what' s the purpose of you being here?"'88
This unusual spurt of energy may have stemmed from sheer elation. The
trip to France had been a huge success. Don Bosco's presence had the effect of
mobilizing his cooperators' charity, bringing in large sums of money, most of
which he immediately devoted to the local works. Viglietti almost daily notes
the amounts collected, the joint offerings of the common folk, and the larger in-
dividual offerings of the rich, none more generous than Count Fleury Antoine
Colle and family.
2. Summer and Autumn of 1885
However, back in Turin the body, if not the spirit, had to yield. The scorching
heat of summer also wore him down. He was forced to seek the cooler climate of
the foothills.
Don Bosco moved to Mathi, accompanied by Father [Giovanni] Bonetti, by
Viglietti, his secretary (his son, rather!), and by [Salesian] seminarian
[Angelo] Festa. The superiors insisted. He is to spend some time here nl
rest, for he is so weak that he could not possibly bear the summer's heat in
86 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol I, pp. 50f., "Marseilles, April 17, 1885,"
FDBM 1223 A5.
8? Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. I, p. 66, "Nice, April 27, 1885," FDBM
1223 Bl.
88 Viglietti , Original Chronicle, Vol. I, pp. 7lf., "Sampierdarena, May 2,
1885," FDBM 1223 B3f.

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the city. [...] Don Bosco takes his recreation recalling numerous episodes
out of the past, while walking in the garden. He seems to be getting better
and to be regaining his strength; his appetite also has improved.89
Don Rosco's lack of appetite, and his frequent stomach upsets and diarrhea, were
a grave concern to Salesians and physicians alike. Dr. Albertotti remarks: "This
condition caused grave concern; so that, in spite of his complete indifference to
his own health and affainst his objections, the Salesians ordered a special fare ex-
clusively for him.''9 In his Diary, Viglietti jotted down a regimen, developed
perhaps on doctors' advice, designed for the comfort of the master, especially
when away from home. It also reveals the secretary's ingenuity.
Half past eleven: vermouth; half past four: chamomile tea. Tum down his
bed; remove his [elastic] stockings; have a shoe horn and combs ready for
him; set out a glass of water with salt on his night table. When staying at a
[Salesian] house, ask for vegetable soup and boiled foods generally to be
served to him. Have myrrh tablets available [for after meals]. Arrange for
gelatin to be served to him in hot weather. (Make all such arrangements
through the director or administrator of the house.) Always have a small
flask of sabayon or cream cordial for use when he cannot celebrate Mass or
in an emergency. Get him the morning or evening papers. Serve him finger-
biscuits at breakfast...91
In August there were set-backs. "Don Rosco's condition has us all worried,"
writes Viglietti. "He is suffering from unremitting headaches, from dysentery,
and from an eye disease. But he is invariably cheerful: he never complains."
Some of his normally scheduled activities had to be canceled. "Because of deteri-
orating health, this year again Don Bosco missed his birthday celebration and the
awards ceremonies [at the Oratory]. Ill health also prevented him from attending
the spiritual retreat.''92
However, he insisted on attending the novices' spiritual retreat at San
Benigno later in August. Viglietli here, as he does numerous times earlier <l1d
later in the chronicle, points out how easily Don Bosco is moved to tears, one of
the signs of aging.
This morning Don Bosco celebrated community Mass, and everyone was
deeply moved. As usual, al the Domine non sum dignus he began to cry and
could not go on. At the words, Ecce Agnus Dei, and during the distribution
89 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. II, p. 83, "Mathi, July 15 and 16, 1885,"
FDBM 1223 Bl2.
90 Albertotti, Chi era Don Bosco?, p. 78, FDBM 533 B 12.
91 Viglietti, Diario, p. 27, FDBM 1231 0 8.
92 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. Il, pp. 95 and lOlf., "Mathi, August 7 and
15, 1885," FDBM 1223 C 6 and 9f.

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Journal of Salesian Studies
of communion to the community he kept on sobbing loudly. For quite
some time now, Don Bosco exhibits extraordinary tenderheartedness. Hardly
ever can he refrain from crying during Mass; he cries habitually during
Benediction. Even during regular conversation he must avoid sensitive
topics, otherwise he starts crying.93
After the spiritual retreat, Don Bosco stayed on at San Benigno. He has been
suffering for some time from serious ailments, which are aggravated by his
total lack of strength and by the foul weather. I don't reca ll ever having seen
him in so much pain. Yesterday I had to go to Turin on some errand with
Reverend Father Lemoyne and Father Ronchail, director at Nice. Before
selling out, we stopped by his room to see him. He broke into sobs m
began to cry like a baby. He said: "You all run off, and I am left here
alone!" But by evening he was in a cheerful and happy mood again.94
Don Bosco had experiences which he interpreted as premonitions of his own
death. Viglietti writes:
Don Bosco related to me that two or three days ago, after the elevation of
the Mass, he was engulfed in blazing bright light which made it impossible
for him to go on with the Mass. And as a matter of fact, I recall that, as I
was assisting him as usual on the day in question, he came to a stop in the
celebration of the Mass and paused in an attitude of confusion m
astonishment. Don Bosco further stated that the blazing bright light was
then replaced by the thickest darkness. Only when it dissipated could he go
on and finish the Mass. Don Bosco then remruked: "Reflecting on this
experience, I thought: the darkness which so suddenly replaced the bright
light may be a warning that I am to die soon, perhaps immediately. With
this thought in mind that very evening I sent for Father [Giulio] Barberis
and had him take down certain imf'rtant memoirs, before they should find
me dead in bed in the morning." 9
As the weather cooled, Don Bosco began to feel a little better. He attended the
spiritual retreats at Valsalice in September and then returned to the Oratory m
settled down to his restricted activity. He usually kept to his rooms, except for
the daily walk which he took leaning on secretary Viglietti and on Father
Lemoyne. One of Viglietti's last entries for 1885 is revealing.
93 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. II, pp. 108f., "San Benigno, August 26,
1885," FDBM 1223 01. The words for "Lord, I am not worthy" and "Behold the Lamb
of God" are texts of the Communion rite in the pre-Vatican II Latin Mass.
94 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. II, p. 110, "San Benigno, August 30,
1885," FDBM 1223 02.
9S Viglielli, Original Chronicle, Vol. II, pp. 11 lf., "San Benigno, August 31,
1885," FDBM 1223 02f.

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Today is the feast of the Immaculate Conception. [...] Don Bosco put in an
appearance at dinner with all [the confreres]. Only very seldom does Don
Bosco give Benediction nowadays; this evening he wished to do it himself. I
noticed that the people [attending the service] began to press forward in crder
to catch a glimpse of him . And not a few were moved to tears on seeing that
venerable old man drag himself along, his body completely worn out from a
life of work on behalf of the young.
Earlier this evening, Don Bosco held a conference with the confreres.
The circular letter announcing the official appointment of a vicar general for
the Congregation was read.96 Then Don Bosco spoke. He said that we owe
everything to Mary; and noted that all our greatest undertakings were
brought into being on the day of the Immaculate Conception. He went on to
speak of the Oratory as it was 44 years ago, comparing it to our present
situation. He stated that all the blessings bestowed on us from heaven
through Mary's intercession were the result of that fust fervent Hail Mary
which he and that yourl,f man (Bartholomew Garelli) recited together in the
church of St. Francis.9
On the feast of St. Francis de Sales (January 29 at the time), the new chapel set
up in the room adjoining Don Rosco's was inaugurated. This chapel was to play
an important role during the last illness. Viglietti writes:
A new, little altar has been prepared for Don Bosco. I have set it up in what
used to be my bedroom.98 Don Bosco said Mass there for the first time
today, and I assisted him . Don Bosco has been saying Mass for many years
at a closet-altar set in the wall of the waiting room. That was just a closet, a
narrow, poorly lighted opening, lacking sufficient space for even one server.
I have always believed that Don Bosco's rooms would eventually be regarded
as a shrine. Consequently, I did not cease to press, even in the face of
contradiction and criticism, for the erection of this special little chapel and
altar."99
96 Cf. note 80 and related text, above. Pope Leo Xill himself, through Cardinal
Alimonda, had initiated the process for the appointment of a vicar in October 1884.
The decree appointing Father Michele Rua vicar with right of succession had been
issued in November of that year. Don Bosco, however, waited one whole year before
making the official artnouncement to the confreres. In the letter, he presented Father
Rua as his fully empowered vicar, but he omitted to mention the right of succession
[Ceria, Ep IV, pp. 347-349).
9? Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. II, pp. 128f., "Turin, December 8, 1885,"
FDBM 1223 011.
98 Cf. note 81, above.
99 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. II, pp. 133f., "January 29, 1886," FDBM
1223 Elf.

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Journal of Salesian Studies
3. Don Bosco's Trip to Spain (Barcelona) in Early 1886
As spring stirred in the air, Don Bosco began to talk of a new fund-raising trip.
These past days, Don Bosco has been repeating the proverb, "Hunger drives
the wolf from its lair." Therefore, in spite of his being physically so run
down and in such poor health, he is now forced to undertake yet another trip,
one that will take him perhaps as far as Spain. We are already discussing a
departure date. IOO
[i} Passing through Southern France
Don Bosco, accompanied by his faithful secretary and by Fathers Francesco
Cerruti and Antonio Sala (who were going to houses in Liguria on business),
left Turin on March 12 for Genoa. He would then travel by stages along the
Italian and French Riviera to Marseilles, where he would be joined by Father
Rua. From there the trio would proceed to Spain, with Barcelona as their destina-
tion. At every stage, the days are filled with interviews, visits, Cooperators' con-
ferences, religious celebrations, receptions, graces, blessings, great crowds, good
collections,... episodes and vignettes of all sorts! Again and again, we are told:
"Don Bosco is dead-tired, but undaunted and in good spirits."
One evening at Sampierdarena Don Bosco sat chatting with the confreres.
By and by the conversation turned on to the subject of emotional sensi-
tivity. Don Bosco confessed that he can no longer pray for our missionaries
during holy Mass without experiencing an overpowering rush of emotion.
He begins to choke up and to cry, and is unable to go on with the Mass.
Only by thinking of something funny, like Gianduia, can he regain his
compos ure." 10 1
Viglietti devotes a long entry to Don Bosco's visit to "Her Majesty Olga
Nikolajewna, Queen of Wiirtenberg," at her villa near Nice. The secretary is al-
ways impressed with, and proud of the fact that the great ones of this world pay
homage to Don Bosco. But he ends on a touching note. As Don Bosco was leav-
ing, "the ladies stopped whatever they were doing, or peeped out of doorways,
and with real compassion watched Don Bosco shambling painfully down the
hall s ... 102
100 Yiglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. II, p. 149, "March l, 1886," FDBM 1223
E9.
JOI Yiglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. ID, p. 60. "March 15, 1886," FDBM
1224 C6. Gianduia was a popular droll marionette character.
102 Yiglictti, Original Chronicle, Vol. III, p. 68, "March 27, 1886," FDBM
1224 ClO.

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After a two-day stay at Toulon, the honored guests of Count Colle &lei
family, our travelers went on to Marseilles. "The newspapers carried the news of
Don Bosco's arrival at Marseilles; hence, there is an enormous crowd of people
wanting to see him."103 At the end of an exhausting week filled with feverish
religious and social activity, "Don Bosco feels extremely tired." Father Rua hOO
meanwhile joined the group. "With Father Rua's advice, we decided to leave for
Barcelona on Wednesday [April 7] at 5 o'clock in the evening, in a specially re-
served compartment. We shall reach our destination in seventeen hours [April
8]."104
[ii] Barcelona
After a day of rest Don Bosco received an official welcome from the youngsters
of the Salesian vocational school of Sarria (Barcelona).
The youngsters entertained us nicely with the band. [...] Don Bosco gave
some candy to each of them. Those lads are overjoyed at having Don Bosco
in their midst. Papa is quite well; the pain of his ailments seems to have
subsided. He is very cheerful. 105
A couple of days after his arrival, Don Bosco had the famous dream, the
Barcelona Dream. This is the fifth and last of the great missionary dreams, the
one in which the Lady-Shepherdess showed him twenty mission stations on a
line stretching from Santiago (Chile) through the center of Africa, to Peking
(China). Viglietti recorded the dream as he heard it from Don Bosco.106
The "Barcelona Diary," as this section of Viglietti's chronicle is called,
presents a Don Bosco totally available and at the mercy of adoring crowds and of
special friends and benefactors. Viglietti goes to great lengths in his descriptions
of the charismatic figure of the master and of the popularity he enjoys.
Receptions, conferences with huge crowds, endless streams of people wishing to
l03 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. ill, p. 73, "April l, 1886," FDBM 1224
Cl2.
l04 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. Ill, p. 74, "April 3, 1886," FDBM 1224
Dl. At this time there were only two foundations in Spain: the orphanage of Utrera,
near Sevilla (1881 ), and the vocational school (talleres) al Sarria, near Barcelona
(1883). The director here was Father Giovanni Branda, who some two months before
had experienced a nocturnal visit by Don Bosco which he interpreted as a bilocation.
He could nol, however, elicit a confirmation from Don Bosco.
l05 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. ill, p. 81, "April 10, 1886," FDBM 1224
D4.
l06 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. III, pp. 84-87, "April 11, 1886," FDBM
1224 D6f. For a discussion of this dream, cf. Arthur Lenti, "Don Bosco's Missionary
Dreams[...]," Journal of Salesian Studies 4:1 (1993) pp. 17-26.

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Journal of Saleslan Studies
see him, speak to him, and have his blessing: these are daily occurrences.
Church authorities, religious superiors, and civil dignitaries flock to pay their re-
spects. People of the nobility vie for the honor of having him as guest and of
placing their coaches at his disposal. Then there are special people, the benefi-
cent families that currently support the Salesian work, and will in the future en-
sure its expansion and success. First-ranking among them are the families of
Doiia Dorotea de Chopitea and of Don Luis Martf-Codolar. They truly take Don
Bosco and his young secretary to their hearts.
Viglietti begins Volume IV of his chronicle with the words: "I am happy
to be able to begin this new volume of my little journal with a report of a day
which will remain indelibly imprinted on our memory." There follows a 6-page
report of the grand reception given in honor of Don Bosco by the Catholic
Men's Association in new premises. The report ends with the comment: "Don
Bosco felt extremely tired. He said that in the midst of the honors conferred on
him, his one thought was: 'My! What little knowledge it takes to make the
world go round!"'107 But the collection was good!
A little later, speaking of "thousands and thousands" of people who wished
to see Don Bosco, Viglietti writes:
Today we were forced to post a notice at the church's door specifying the
times when he will appear to impart the Blessing of Mary Help of
Christians. His health has been none too good.
Don Bosco is comple tely out of breath and has no strength left in him,
merely from the effort entailed in giving blessings and in saying, Dios os
bendiga! [May God bless you.] Every morning, no sooner is Mass over
than the people who fill the church surge forward. Don Bosco takes time to
bless them and then goes up to his quarters. His waiting room is filled with
a new group of people eight or ten times by turn. To all he gives the
blessing and the medal of Mary Help of Christians.
This morning there was a veritable invasion of people! Seven packets
of medals were distributed in a single hour. At Mass, with standing room
only, people stood pressed together like sardines. Don Bosco gave
communion to four or five hundred people, then he had to surrender the
ciborium to others."108
A few days later Don Bosco auended the conference held in the parish church of
Belen, truly one of the highlights of the trip. "Don Bosco avers that never did he
witness suc h a spectacle, not in Italy, not in France, not even in Paris."
l07 Viglietli, Original Chronicle, Vol. IV, pp. 1 and 6, "The Great Day of April
15, 1886," FDBM 1224 Dll and E2. "What little knowledge [...]," spoken in Latin:
Quam parva scienJia regitur mundus.
108 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. IV, pp. 8f. and 21, "April 18, 20 and 26,
1886," FDBM 1224 E3 and 9.

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57
According to Viglietti, over twenty thousand people crowded into a church which
in reality can hold at most four thousand standing! They all came to "see" Don
Bosco, for the venerable old man merely sat quietly and spoke but a few words.
When the program was over,
the crowd rushed upon Don Bosco in a frenzy, in order to see him at close
range or touch him. But they spirited him away. Once safely back in the
carriage, we crossed the square where a numberless crowd of people awaited
Don Bosco's passage, bareheaded in spite of the heavy rain! [...] The
collection amounted to ten thousand lire, which topped the seven thousand
collected in Paris in the church of the Madeleine.109
Another highlight of the Barcelona sojourn was the gift made to Don Bosco of
the Tibidabo hill. "The owners unanimously voted to make over to Don Bosco a
whole mountain, the highest of the range which surrounds Barcelona. Its name is
Tibi Dabo , and it is 'given' to honor Don Bosco on his visit to the city." This
was on May 1. A couple of days later, the property was legally made over, m
the papers were signed at a reception given in Don Bosco's honor at the villa of
Don Lufs Martf-Codolar, at which also the boys of the Salesian school were pre-
sent. It was at this reception that the famous photograph that will forever be as-
sociated with the Barcelona trip was taken. The deed to the Tibidabo property
was publicly tendered to Don Bosco on the occasion of a conference held in the
church of Our Lady of Mercy, a church beloved of the people of Barcelona. In oc-
cepting the gift, Don Bosco promised to build a church on that mountain top, a
monument in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I Io
The "Barcelona Diary" comes to an end with a breathtaking description of
Don Bosco's last day at Sarria. The leave-taking was a protracted affair. After the
celebration of Mass, crowds of people laid siege, wanting a last glimpse and a
last blessing. The authorities, the nobility, the special friends came in endless
109 Viglieui, Original Chronicle, Vol. IV, pp. 33-37, "The Great Day of April
30, 1886," FDBM 1225 A3-5. For the sum collected, cf. I bid., p. 38, "May 1, 1886,"
A6.
I IO Viglieui, Original Ch.ronicle, Vol. IV, pp. 40, 45f. and 50f., "May 1, 3, and
5, 1886," FDBM 1225 A7, 9f., and 12.
A group of Catholic men had bought the mountain top known as Tibi Dabo ("I
will give," a reference perhaps to Mt 4:9) Lo keep a non-Catholic partnership from
acquiring it and building a "health resort" on it. Don Bosco, of course, did not live to
keep his promise. A Salesian community was established on the mountain top in
1912. The church and buildings, begun in 1926, and the bronze statue of the Sacred
Heart, were damaged or destroyed during the Spanish civil war in 1936. The present
monumental church, built over many years, was dedicated on October 26, 1961. This
marked the seventy-fifth anniversary of Don Bosco's acceptance of the gift and of his
promise to build the church [Cf. Bollenino Salesiano 85:23 (Dec. 1961) pp. 400-
409) .

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Journal of Saleslan Studies
lines to say good-bye. There were embraces, kisses, tears. And the ladies would
not let Don Rosco's young and handsome secretary go! 111
The return journey took our travelers from Barcelona to Gerona, then on to
Montpellier. 112 From there they entrained for Tarascon and then followed a
northeastern route to Valence and Grenoble, and finally to Turin and to an enthu-
siastic welcome-back celebration.
4. Back in Turin in the Latter Half of 1886
No longer sustained by the euphoria of the French and Spanish crowds, Don
Rosco's body capitulated. "His arms are so sore that he can move them only
with great effort [...] His flesh smarts from the stings, and the racks, and the
crowns of thorn, and the crosses endured."113
The public feast of Mary Help of Christian was celebrated on May 29.
Don Bosco is under siege by the crowd, is out of breath and cannot even
stand up any more. He smiled and whispered to me: "I wonder if one might
dispense a few whacks out of devotion?" This morning after Mass he was
truly drained of strength; he could not say another word. Gasping for breath
with great effort, he called me over and asked me with a smile: "Would there
be someone in Turin who makes bellows? I need a pair to help me
breathe!" l 14
His nights were often restless and troubled with nightmares:
For some nights Don Bosco has been dreaming of being attacked by
monsters. He dreams of cats which change into dogs, of bears which change
into lions, of serpents which take the shape of demons. And they attack him
viciously. Last night he kept yelling for a good half hour. He kept calling:
"Viglietti! Viglietti! " At first I refrained from interfering for fear of breaking
up some beautiful vision [he might be having]. But on second thought,
knowing how sore his chest would be from yelling and how tired his mind,
l 1l Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. IV, pp. 53-59, " May 6, 1886," FDBM
1225 Bl-4.
112 It was on this occasion that Dr. Combal visited Don Bosco again on several
evenin~s [cf. note 79, above].
11 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. V, p. 1, "May 19, 1886," FDBM 1225
Bl2.
114 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. V, p. 6, "May 29, 1886," FDBM 1225
C3. The quip about the "whacks out of devotion," spoken in Pedmontese: Chissa se
dui pugn per divusion as polu dese?

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59
I woke him up. He thanked me sincerely: "Thank you, my dear Viglietti,"
he said. "You did me a good tum. These dreams upset me so much!"l 15
On the feast of St. John the Baptist, June 24, Don Bosco celebrated his name
day in the family.
This morning Don Bosco celebrated Mass in the church, at St. Peter's altar.
As on the feast of Mary Help of Christians, I assisted him. After Mass, he
had some breakfast in the confreres' dining room. He had not been there for
breakfast for these past 25 years. At half past nine, the alumni came to offer
their gifts. [...] Yesterday evening, Father Lemoyne presented Don Bosco
with a beautiful work of his, the Life of Mamma Margaret."116
As usual, the summer heat forced Don Bosco out of Turin, to Valsalice in the
hills, and later to Pinerolo, where he was Lo spend a month at the bishop's
summer villa. He was back in Turin for the retreats at San Benigno arl
Valsalice. But again Viglietti remarks: "Don Bosco has little strength left in
him, and he finds the excessive heat unbearable.''117
In September, Don Bosco spent a couple of days in Milan for the
Cooperators' conference, at which Father Luigi Lasagna, on a visit from the
missions, was the speaker. IL was again a memorable experience.
Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament brought the proceedings to a close.
We then had to walk the length of the church (longer than any in Turin) in
order to reach the carriages. Archbishop [Luigi Nazari di] Calabiana [of
Milan] walked with Don Bosco and supported him on one side, while I
supported him on the other. The throng of people stood in admiration at the
sight of the Archbishop helping Don Bosco. They were saying, "How they
love one another!" It Look all of twenty minutes Lo walk the length of the
115 Viglieui, Original Chronicle, Vol. V, p. 11, "June 15, 1886," FDBM 1225,
cs.
116 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. V, p. 16, "June 24, 1886," FDBM 1225
C8. It appears that Lemoyne had for some time been planning to write a short
biography of Margaret, perhaps for the Ca1holic Readings. It is likely that Don
Bosco himself was his chief source. When in 1885 Lemoyne began to assemble and
print the Documenli this material was included. Don Bosco approved of the project.
As a matter of fact, when, on passing through France on his way to Spain in 1886, he
was a guest of Count Louis Colle in Toulon, the two discussed the biography, and the
Count offered to defray expenses of publication. Lemoyne then reworked the material
collected in Documenli and produced the popular biography entitled, Scene morali di
famiglia esposle nella vita di Margherita Bosco. Racconlo edificanle ed ameno
[Moralistic Family-Life Vignettes from the life of Margaret Bosco. An edifying and
entertaining narrative]. Torino: Scuola Tipografica Salesiana, 1886.
117 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. V, p. 33, "August 31, 1886," FDBM
1225 D4.

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Journal of Salesian Studies
church. When we reached the carriages, the throng of people had already
filled the large square and the nearby streets. The great throng broke into
loud acclamations, "Long live Don Bosco! Long live the Archbishop!"l 18
At this point in time, conflicting reports about Don Bosco's condition appeared
in the press. That Don Bosco was a sick man was now common knowledge.
Some papers even reported his death.
This morning a telegram was received from the editor-in-chief of the Paris
newspaper La Croix which we found quite inexplicable. It read: "Accept our
most heartfelt sympathy for your irreparable loss. We would appreciate
information regarding Don Bosco by return telegram." It was addressed not
to Don Bosco, but to the Superior of the Salesian Congregation. This led us
to believe that newspapers in France had been carrying the news of Don
Bosco's death. The following telegram was dispatched in response: "I am
well, and cannot understand the reason for your expressions of sympathy. I
thank you for your concern. Bosco."
All the newspapers carry the notice that Don Bosco is critically ill. Don
Bosco, however, has for some time been feeling much better, thanks be to
God. This evening Father Margotti [editor-in-chief of L' Unita Cattolica],
alarmed at the reports published in the papers, called on Don Bosco."119
In the good autumn days, Don Bosco enjoyed a ride into the country.
Every day for the past month, weather permitLing, I have had the trap made
ready and have taken Don Bosco out for a ride. The coachman heads for the
country. Once out there, we get off, and Don Bosco takes a walk with me,
conversing pleasantly all the while. This gives him a little relief. This
evening on our way back, we chanced to meet the cardinal's carriage. The
cardinal got off, came over to our carriage, greeted Don Bosco, and stopped
to chat for a while; then he returned to his own carriage. We drove home full
of admiration for the cardinal's goodness.120
As noted earlier, Carlo Viglietti was ordained a priest on December 18.121 But
the relationship remained unchanged. He continued to be Don Bosco's "faithful
dog" (cagnotto) and "papa's favorite son."
118 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. V, p. 4 1, "September 12, 1886," FDBM
1225 07.
119 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. V, p. 46, "September 21 and 22, 1886,"
FDBM 1225 Dll and 12.
120 Viglietti, Original chronicle, Vol. V, p. 59, "November 4, 1886," FDBM
1225 ES.
121 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. V, p. 61, "December 18, 1886," FDBM
1225 E6. Cf. note 16 and related text, above.

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61
As for Don Bosco, for a while things seemed to be going fairly well; but as
the year came to an end they took a tum for the worse. On December 31,
Viglietti writes:
This year for the first time Don Bosco failed to come in person, as has
always been his custom to do, to present the New Year's gift to the con-
freres. He sent Father Rua instead. Don Bosco has been feeling extremely
weak for days now. Yesterday he insisted on hearing confessions. I advised
him against it, in accordance with the doctors' recommendation. He said to
me: "I see you are afraid to go to confession, am I not right? I know why:
you have done something really bad." Then smiling he took my hand in his
and said: " My dear Viglietti, if I cannot hear the boys' confessions, what
else can I do for them? I promised God that I would work for the good of my
youngsters until my dying breath."122
S. Don Bosco in Early 1887
One of the first entries of the new year seems to set the mood for what was to
follow.
Someone brought to my attention that, when at table for meals, Don Bosco
speaks very little, and appears to be always deep in thoug ht. The other day,
as he was watering down his wine, I heard him whispering to himself. He
said: "Jesus also, on the cross, willed that his blood should be mixed with
water." 123
Viglietti closes Volume V of his chronicle by reporting the Dream of the
Handmaid of the Lord, a comforting dream which Don Bosco had on two succes-
sive nights. 124
The next fifteen entries take us through spring and present us with a Don
Bosco still engaged and alert, certainly, but weakening by the day. The
frightening dreams and nightmares also persisted, arising out of his fears for the
future of the Congregation. One occurred at the beginning of April.
122 Viglietti, Original chronicle, Vol. V, p. 63, "December 31, 1886," FDBM
1225 E7. The New Year's gift (strenna) in Salesian practice is usually in the form of a
spiritual keepsake or message.
123 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. Y, p. 68, "January 4, 1887," FDBM 1225
ElO. Don Bosco is referring to John 19:34.
124 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. Y, pp. 69-71 and 72f., "January 4 and 5,
1887," FDBM 1225 ElOf. and 12. In the firs t night, the Handmaid of the Lord,
speaking in Latin assured him that [Salesian] seminarian Louis Olive would get well.
She returned on a second night Lo give Don Bosco advice regarding the Congregation.
Don Bosco thought it important enough to want to set it down in writing himself.
Don Bosco's autograph is in ASC 132: Autografi-Sogni, FD BM 1347 Cl0-D3.

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Journal of Saleslan Studies
Yesterday in the evening Don Bosco told us that the previous night he had a
frightening dream, and that was the sole cause of the extraordinary weakness
and of the very painful discomforts he was experiencing. This morning he
had a frightened look about him, and told me that last night he had not a
moment's rest, merely thinking of the vision he had. He acXhl that if the
boys were to hear an account of it, they would either embrace a life of
holiness or they would faint away from sheer fright.125
At this time also, Don Bosco suffered a relapse, minor by comparison with the
great crises, but which marked a further stage in the downward slide.
This evening at about 7 o'clock, Don Bosco became gravely ill, and I was
frightened. He had lost his speech, his breath came only with great
difficulty, nor could he move his limbs. I had to undress him in a hurry axl
put him to bed. He seemed unaware of what was happening.
This morning Don Bosco was unable to celebrate Mass. He got up late,
took a little coffee, and vomited it immediately. But gradually he regained
strength and now he is feeling better. He took his noon-day meal with the
others. But this evening he went to bed earlier than usual.
This morning [Holy Thursday] Don Bosco celebrated holy Mass in his
little chapel. He gave holy Communion to me and to o thers, and then kept
the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle, because tomorrow [Good Friday] he
wants to receive Communion from me."126
6. The Last Journey-to Rome
Apparently the "recovery" was good enough for him to undertake the last axl
probably mos t demanding of all his trips, the journey to Rome for the consecra-
tion of the church of the Sacred Heart. Accompanied by Father Rua and by his
fai thful secretary, on April 20 he left Turin, and by stages the group proceeded to
Florence.
Fathe r Rua and the rest of the company went to the Salesian school. Don
Bosco and myself were the guests of the Marchioness [Girolama Uguccioni
Gherardi]. In her house Don Bosco is always treated lavishly, but at the
same time everyone regards him as one of the family. He himself always
addresses the marchioness as " mother."127
125 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VJ, pp. 22f., "April 3, 1887," FDBM
1226 Al 1. There fo llows a five-page description of a frightening nightmare on hell.
l26 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VI, pp. 29 and 30, "April 5, 6 and 7,
1887," FDBM 1226 B2 and 3.
127 Viglieui, Original Chronicle, Vol. VI, p. 43, "April 25, 1887," FDBM 1226
B9.

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Don Bosco's Last Illness
63
Areu.o was the next stop, and they were the guests of the archbishop. "Don
Bosco is not known in Arezzo; hence it is hoped that this will be a day of real
rest for him."128
The group arrived in Rome on April 30. On May 1, Viglietti writes:
This morning Don Bosco said Mass in a room next to his own, where a
beautiful closet-altar has been set up for him. When he got to the Last
Gospel, the altar drapery caught on fire and burst into flames. I jumped on
the altar and made several attempts to smother the flames with my bare
hands, but did not succeed. Finally I put out the fire with two kettles of
water. But as a result I burned myself badly; my hands are in bad shape. 129
Activity in Rome was unre mitting. Church authorities, civic dignitaries, aid
bishops from various parts of the world kept calling on Don Bosco. A festive
banquet for many illustrious guests was held on May 8.
Don Bosco rose to speak, and among other things he eulogized [the late]
Father [Giacomo] Margotti. Others also rose to speak, extemporizing
eloquent and heartfelt discourses in English, French, and Spanish [as well as
Italian]. The festive dinner was held especially to honor Father [Michele]
Rua, Don Bosco's vicar; he was the object of sincere and well-deserved
accolades. At a certain point, the doors were thrown open, and the
youngsters of the Home sang beautifully in honor of Father Rua on his
name day. 130
The pages of the chronicle for the next few days are filled with long lists of il-
lustrious visitors. At one point Viglietti reports:
Don Bosco is dead tired; he is completely exhausted. He cannot wait, so he
avers, to get back to Turin. He plans to be on his way on the seventeenth
[after the consecra tion of the church on May 14], with a single stop-over at
Pisa. 131
128 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VI, p. 49, "April 29, 1887," FDBM 1226
12.
129 Viglieni, Original Chronicle, Vol. VI, p. 50, "May 1, 1887," FDBM 1226
Cl. In the pre-Vatican Il Latin Mass, a "last gospel" (which was always the prologue
of the Gospel of John) was read after the blessing and before the final prayers.
l30 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VI, p. 53f., "May 8, 1887," FDBM 1226
C2f. Father Giacomo Margotti, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper l ' Unita catto lica,
had died recently.
131 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VI, pp. 58, "May 11 , 1887," FDBM 1226
C5.

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Journal of Salesian Studies
On May 13, the eve of the consecration of the church, Pope Leo XIII received
Don Bosco, Father Rua and Father Viglietti in special audience, for all three a
signal token of affection on the pope's part, but for Viglietti altogether a
"glorious and memorable experience." After a four-page description of the
Vatican and of the preliminary protocol, Viglietti reports that the Pope received
Don Bosco in his private room and that, to make Don Bosco more comfortable
and to put him at ease, he took an ermine rug from his bed and draped it over
Don Bosco's knees.
He the n affectionately took Don Bosco's hand in his and inquired after his
health. Don Bosco replied: "I am an old man of 72, and this is my last trip
and the conclusion of all my activity." But the Holy Father reminded Don
Bosco that he was still young compared to his own 78 years, and that he
hoped to see his dear Don Bosco again in the future. "As long as I am still
alive," the pope assured him, "you have nothing to fear." "Holy Father,"
Don Bosco countered, "Your word is infallible, and I accept your good
wishes." Then Leo XIII inquired about the [Society's financial] burdens
(gravami), about the houses, and especially about the missions, in which he
showed great interest. Finally, he asked Don Bosco if there was anything he
could do for him. Don Bosco discussed these and other matters at leng th
with the pope; but the conversation concerned the church of the Sacred Heart
in particular, which was due to be consecrated the next day. 132
After the pope's further words of advice, Fathers Rua and Viglietti were intro-
duced, and then the audience came to an end.
Saturday, May 14, was the day of consecration. Viglietti writes:
This morning, at half past seven, His Eminence [Lucido] Parocchi, Cardinal
Vicar of Rome, arrived for the consecration of the churc h. The ceremony
lasted six hours without interruption. [The ceremony over,] Father
[Francesco] Dalmazzo celebrated the first Mass. [...] At 1 o'clock the
Cardinal Vicar came over from the church and embraced Don Bosco. Dinner
was then served to a great number of illustrious guests. Don Bosco toasted
the Cardinal Vicar's health, thanked him for all he had done for the
[Salesian] Congregation as its protector, and spoke of him with real
132 Viglielli, Original Chronicle, Vol. VI, pp. 68f., "May 13, 1887," FDBM
1226 ClO. A recent entry in the chronicle of the house of the Sacred Heart in Rome
reads: "The day before the consecration of the church, Friday, May 13, 1887, the very
day of the papal audience, Don Bosco arranged for seven orphans to be given shelter
that very night. This he did to obtain the Lord's blessing on the work." This
information (the source of which is not indicated) was recorded by the late Father
Antonio Dejala, director from 1975 to 1981. It was kindly made available to me by
the present director-pastor, Father Mario Fabbian.

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warmth. His Eminence responded with a beautiful speech. He congratulated
Don Bosco and praised his decision to open the church for worship, even
though work was still in progress."133
Pontifical Masses were celebrated on the next few days by Roman prelates, axl
the Oratory choir, come from Turin for the purpose, performed the music. On
Monday, May 16, after the scheduled pontifical, Don Bosco came down to the
church, and offered Mass at the altar dedicated to Mary Help of Christians.
Poor dear Don Bosco! Over fifteen times he paused, deeply moved and in
tears, unable to continue. I was assisting him as usual, and each time I h<l1
to intervene and call him back to the celebration. After Mass, a throng of
people pressed around him to kiss his hand. They were also deeply moved.
As he came to the sacristy, the people who were crowding the first room
asked for his blessing. ' Yes, yes,' Don Bosco agreed; but as he turned to
pronounce the blessing, he broke into loud sobs and covered his face with
his hands. ' Yes, I bless, I bless,' he murmured in a choked voice, and turned
away. [...)
Later I asked Don Bosco why he had been so moved during the
celebration of Mass. He said to me: 'There rose vividly before my eyes the
scene [of my boyhood days at Becchi) when at the age of te n I dreamt o f the
congregation. I could so clearly see and hear my brothers and my mo ther
arg uing over the dream, that nothing any longer [seemed real]."134
In the next entry, Viglietti writes:
Today Don Bosco wrote the following letter to the Holy Father, [Pope) Leo
XIII: "Most Holy Father: I am about to depart from Rome greatly comforted
and encouraged by the truly charitable and fatherly reception accorded to me
by Your Holiness. The church and the school of the Sacred Heart are now in
operation. [...) The home for poor orphan boys has not ye t been completed,
but hopefully it will soon be, if God grant me life. We still have a debt of
51,000 lire outstanding on the fa<;ade of the church. If Your Holiness should
be in a position to settle at least part of the bill which is still due, our
financial situation would be stabilized. All our orphan boys, 250,000 of
the m, daily offer prayers for the continued well-being of Your Holiness.
[...]"135
l 33 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VI, pp. 78-80, "May 14, 1887," FDBM
1226 D3f.
134 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VU, pp. 3-5, "May 16, 1887," FDBM
1226 D7 f. The last sentence is left incomplete.
l35 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VU, pp. 6-8, "May 17, 1887," FDBM
1226 D9f. Cf. also E. Ceria, Epislolario IV, 377. The number of "orphans" given is
remarkable in view of the fact that the Salesians had only some 60 houses worldwide

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Journal of Salesian Studies
After a stop-over at Pisa, where Don Bosco and Fathers Rua and Viglietti were
the guests of the archbishop, they were back at the Oratory the evening of May
20. "Father Rua gave the solemn Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, it being
[the beginning of] the triduum [preparatory to the feast] of Mary Help of
Christians. Don Bosco insisted on going into the sanctuary for the
Benediction."
7. Summer and Autumn of 1887
Dr. Albertotti must certainly have been on hand to check Don Bosco out after
the exacting and tiring trip. He writes:
Don Bosco got back to Turin in a greatly deteriorated condition. Before the
trip, the sagging of the spine caused him to walk stooped forward and foo:ed
him to position both arms behind his back in order to keep his balance; now
he needed also to lean on a cane. He could no longer walk unaided, for he
would stagger dangerously with each step. This was due to the progressively
worsening spinal condition as well as to edematous swelling in the lower
portion of his legs. 136
Again, to relieve the swelling, some quack advised the use of "a certain herbal
liniment," which Viglietti identifies as "oil of wintergreen (giusquiamo)," to be
applied at bedtime. Although Viglietti was more than careful in its application,
the doctors quickly put a stop to the experiment.137
The unseasonable heat became a problem, for immediately Don Bosco
experienced loss of appetite and difficulty in breathing. They moved to Valsalice
in the hills, and later, in July and August, to Lanzo, where the cool mountain air
gave him some relief. Viglietti remarks: "Don Bosco is feeling pretty good, but
he has constant nightmares which disturb his sleep at night."138 But by the
middle of August, he had again taken a tum for the worse:
These past days, Don Bosco has been suffering from a complex conjunction
of ailments which saps his strength. What a pain to see him suffer. He is so
short of breath that he is unable to talk. This condition prevented him from
attending the alumni dinner [in Turin]. He could not have made the trip.
Today a group of Salesian superiors and youngsters from the Oratory came
at the time.
136 Albertotti, Chi era Don Bosco?, p. 78, FDBM 533 B12.
137 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VII, pp. 17 and 20, "June 3 and 5, 1887,"
FDBM 1226 E2 and 4.
138 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VII, p. 29, "July 7, 1887," FDBM 1226
E8.

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67
to greet him on his birthday. He also received many telegrams from the
houses and from the Cooperators.139
September came, and there was no improvement. Don Bosco, however, insisted
on attending the spiritual retreat at Valsalice. At this time, Don Bosco seems to
have expected some important event to happen soon, some kind of counterrevo-
lution. Viglietti notes: "Don Bosco said repeatedly: 'I am awaiting with great
apprehension the important events of 1888 and 1891.'"140 Perhaps these pre-
monitions were based on his assessment of the political situation, or on dreams
(though no dream of this kind is recorded). He expressed himself more clearly
some time later:
This morning, after I had read the newspapers to him, Don Bosco remarked:
"Just wait and see; if not by the time of the pope's jubilee, cert.a.inly some
time in the near future, a crusade will be formed against the revolutionaries.
There may not be any blood shed, but they will have their backs to the wall
and will be forced to give back to the pope what is his by right."141
Viglietti tells us that Father Lemoyne was quick to weave his imaginative skein
of speculation on the subject.
Father Lemoyne is just the man to propose grand interpretations, and even
make prophetic projections, as I would call them. From Don Bosco's
dreams and from his words of explanation, one may conclude that the great
important events forecast are to begin and end within the time frame of the
years 1888-1891. Now, as I recall, our "poet laureate" [Carlo] Gastini,
referring in one of his poems to Don Bosco's up-coming golden jubilee in
1891, advanced the idea that perhaps even the pope might attend the
festivities. He said it in jest, of course, and everybody laughed; so did Father
Lemoyne laugh, at first. But then, so he related, a serious thought occurred
to him, and he began his computations: "According to Don Bosco's dreams
the pope will be in exile from Rome, and wi ll return only in 1891. There is
no way of telling what route he will follow. Perhaps he will come through
Turin. His reinstatement will be triumphant, as the whole world will want
to see him returned to his throne. Mary Help of Christians, who proved the
great and mighty protector of popes at Lepanto and at Vienna, may well in-
!39 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VII, pp. 34f., "Lanzo, August 15, 1887,"
FDBM 1226 Ell.
l40 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VII, p. 37, "Valsalice, September 2,
1887," FDBM 1226 El2.
141 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VII, pp. 54f. "November 27, 1887,"
FDBM 1227 A9. "The pope's jubilee" would be the golden jubilee of his priestly or-
dination (1887-1888). Don Bosco seems to be thin.king of a restoration of the pope's
temporal power.

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Journal of Saleslan Studies
spire the pope to make a stop at her church on the very day sacred to her
(May 24). Don Bosco's golden jubilee falls on Trinity Sunday, precisely on
May 24, 1891." These are only conjectures, God knows. But what if it
should come true? 142
This is heavy stuff, and it affords a glimpse into a way of thinking - Don
Bosco's and of the people around him. Viglietti, however, has some reserva-
tions, for he adds: "I set these speculations down in writing, in the event that
what appeared to be just a wild dream should come true. If not, discount every-
thing." Toward the end of September Don Bosco's condition had deteriorated
further. After mentioning a visit from "two bishops from the United States,"
Viglictti writes:
For some time now, Don Bosco's health has been slipping visibly. He has
frequent headaches and runs a temperature. In the past week, he was able to
celebrate Mass on only three days. Yet, he is unfailingly cheerful; he works,
he writes, he gives interviews. And whereas it is he who is in need of
comfort and support, he is all for comforting and supporting others.143
Dreams persisted, some of them expressing his concern for the welfare of the
Congregation.
A few nights ago, so Don Bosco told me, he dreamt of Father [Giuseppe]
Cafasso. In the dream, Father Cafasso escorted him on a visit to all our
houses, including the farthest one in [South] America. [...]Unfortunately he
is so tired that he lacks the strength to tell us the whole story.144
This was late in October. Don Bosco's condition was no better in November.
This year, for the first time ever, Don Bosco's condition prevented him from
attending the rosary for the dead which is recited by the whole community in
the church. I led the rosary in our private little chapel, and a number of our
devoted [Salesian lay] brothers joined Don Bosco in the recitation.145
142 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VII, pp. 45-47, "November 18, 1887,"
FDBM 1227 A4f. Carlo Gastini (1833-1902) was an early oratory lad who stayed on
as a lay worker at the Oratory. He was active on and off stage as an entertainer and was
a facile writer of verse for festive occasions.
143 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VII. p. 38, "September 28, 1887," FDBM
1227 Al .
144 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VII, pp. 43f., "October 24, 1887," FDBM
1227 A3f.
145 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VII, p. 44, "November 1, 1887," FDBM
1227 A4.

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Don Bosco, however, was on hand for the ceremony of the donning of the cleri-
cal habit by Prince Augustus Czartoryski, in late November; in fact with great
effort he officiated, a last moment substitution for the cardinal archbishop who
was ill. Viglietti devotes seven pages to the affair, again showing his fascination
with the nobility.146
8. Foreboding of the End: December 1-20, 1887
Things went from bad to worse in December, and Viglietti's chronicle describes
Don Bosco's physical decline toward the final crisis graphically and with gloomy
foreboding at every entry.
Don Bosco is afraid that he will soon have to stop celebrating Mass. The
poor dear has been saying Mass with painful effort and in a barely audible
voice. I have been assisting him in the celebration of the holy Sacrifice for
the past three years, and I see now that he lacks the strength for it. For
several months he has not been turning [to face the people] for the Dominus
Vobiscum. And for the past month at the time of the people's Communion
he has been taking a seat, letting me distribute the sacred hosts. Likewise,
he lacks the strength to recite the Hail Marys and the prayers [at the end of
the Mass]. I recite them for him, while he silently follows the recitation.
However, on any day when the weather is good, I take him for a walk. With
my support he still manages to walk a fairly good distance. Let's hope for
the best! 147
Don Bosco had a bad night. This morning he was not able to celebrate
Mass; so he assisted at mine, and received holy Communion from me.
When I turned to say, Ecce Agnus Dei, I saw that Don Bosco was crying
like a baby. But he is otherwise in good spirits. This morning, while I was
reading the newspaper to him as usual , he kept teasing me and joking about
his illness.148
146 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VIl, pp. 48-54, "Turin, November 24 ,
1887," FDBM 1227 A6-9.
147 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VII, pp. 56f., "December 2, 1887 ,"
FDBM 1227 AlO. In the pre-Vatican 11 Latin Mass, the priest would be facing away
from the people towards the cross and the tabernacle. But when saying, "Dominus
vobiscum" (The Lord be with you), he would turn to face the people. The Mass ended
with some prayers recited by the priest kneeling at the foot of the altar.
148 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VII, p. 58, "December 3, 1887," FDBM
1227 A11. In the pre-Vatican 11 Latin Mass, immediately before the people's
communion, the priest would tum around, raise a communion wafer and say: Ecce
Agnus Dei [...]" (Behold the Lamb of God).

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Journal of Salesian Studies
The departure of the first missionaries for Ecuador and the return of Bishop
Cagliero from Argentina in early December were significant experiences for Don
Bosco in the midst of his increasing physical decline.
Don Bosco has not been feeling at all well for the past four or five days.
Yesterday evening he had a headache and ran a temperature. The doctors
ordered him to bed at 6 o'clock. This morning he got out of bed at 8
o'clock. He has not said Mass since last Monday [November 28) but has
been receiving Communion.
This evening, in spite of his being so ill, he insisted on going down to
the church and attend the missionaries' send-off ceremony. Leaning on me
and on [Salesian seminarian Angelo] Festa for support, he walked into the
sanctuary, while Father Bonetti was giving the sermon. All the people stood
up trying to catch a glimpse of him. Truly the most beautiful and most
effective sermon came from poor dear Don Bosco, as he dragged himself
along. [After the sermon] Bishop [Basilio] Leto [of Biella] gave the
Benediction, after which he addressed the missionaries and imparted the ritual
blessing.
Then we all witnessed a most moving scene. The missionaries one by
one went up to say good-bye to Don Bosco and to kiss his hand. They were
crying, and so was Don Bosco. There wasn't a dry eye in the congregation.
The many people that filled the church, women in particular, were moved to
tears. Next, the missionaries embraced their confreres and the superiors of
the general council. Then they filed down the aisle, while the people knelt
to kiss the hem of their cassock or their hand. When the chancel was
opened, the people surged around Don Bosco. I heard all kinds of
expressions of sympathy for the dear old man. I saw those people approach
the man of God worshipfully and with tears in their eyes, and I heard them
calling him a saint.
As he crossed the courtyard, Don Bosco received cheers from the
youngsters, before he finally retired to his rooms completely exhausted.149
The sorrow of departure finds compensation in the joy of return. Yesterday
the missionaries left for Quito [Ecuador]; today Bishop Cagliero arrived at
m the Oratory from [South] America. I cannot describe the joyful reception
the heartfelt tribute given him by the youngsters. [...] But most moving
was the scene of Don Rosco's meeting with the bishop. The dear old man
was confined to his chair in his room [when the bishop entered]. Don Bosco
embraced his son holding him close to his heart and cried like a child. He
insisted on kissing the bishop's ring. Three gentlemen from Chile, as well
as Father [Antonio] Riccardi and Father [Valentino] Cassini came with
149 Yiglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VTI, pp. 58-61, "December 6, 1887,"
FDBM 1227 Al0-12.

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Bishop Cagliero. Everything turned out well, and it was a happy
occasion. 15()
The entry for the feast of the Immaculate Conception is quite remarkable.
This morning Don Bosco heard my Mass and received holy Communion,
but he could not himself celebrate. Whal a painful sacrifice this was for
him, on the feast of the Immaculate Conception! But he is always cheerful.
When someone asks him how he is, he invariably replies that he is "just
fine." He jokes about his ailments. The sagging in his spine is increasing
by the day. But he jokes about it and recites the well-known popular jingle
in Piedmontese. "My back, my poor back, you are through with carrying
loads." His legs, too, have for some time been a heavy burden to him. Arxl
so he made up some doggerel in Piedmontese and he recites it often: "My
legs, my swollen legs, straight or defonned, you will always be my stay,
till my dying day."
Praised be Mary Immaculate! Yesterday toward evening the bishop of
Liege, Belgium [Victor-Joseph Doutreloux], arrived at the Oratory. The
purpose of his visit is to get a Salesian house established in his city.
Bishop [Giovanni] Cagliero, Father [Celestino] Durando, and the Belgian
bishop met with Don Bosco to discuss the matter. But after more than an
hour, no decision seemed in sight. Actually, the Salesians' opinion was
generally negative, for lack of personnel. But this morning, when I walked
into Don Bosco's room to read the newspaper to him, he told me to lake
pen and ink and write under his dictation the very words which Mary
Immaculate had spoken on appearing to him during the night: "It is God's
good pleasure, and the Blessed Virgin Mary's, that the sons of St. Francis de
Sales go to Liege and open a house there in honor of the Blessed Sacrament.
Here [the Oratory] the glories of Jesus began to be publicized; and from here
the same glories are to be extended to every Salesian house and every
Salesian family, and especially to all the young charges who are or will be
entrusted to the care of the Salesians the world over. Given on the day of
Mary's Immaculate Conception, 1887." These are Don Bosco's very words.
He could not restrain his tears and sobs as he spoke, nor could I as I wrote.
These are extraordinary and solemn moments, and one must experience them
before passing judgment. They are moments of revelation from heaven. My
God!
After a while I took up the newspaper and started to read to Don Bosco.
It was a long article on the missionaries recently departed for Ecuador. The
article spoke of the Blessed Virgin Mary's protection on our works. I could
read no further and began to cry. Don Bosco, too, was crying. I had to set
the newspaper aside and walk out of the room. After a while, Bishop
150 Viglielli, Original Chronicle, Vol. VII, pp. 62f., "December 7, 1887,"
FDBM 1227 Bl.

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Journal of Salesian Studies
Cagliero came up to Don Rosco's room from the church. Don Bosco then
sent for me and told me to read to the bishop the message received from
heaven. We all began to cry again. Bishop Cagliero said: "Yesterday I spoke
against [this foundation]; now there is nothing more I can say, because the
decision has been handed down [from on high] . We agreed not to speak of
the occwrence to the bishop of Liege for the moment, but only to notify
him of our acceptance. Once the foundation is under way, then what
prompted Don Rosco's favorable decision might be told. [...] Don Bosco
said: "Up to now we have always walked securely. We cannot go astray
because Mary is our guide." I also know for a fact that, before leaving his
diocese [for Turin], the bishop of Liege had requested all religious houses in
that city to offer very special prayers for the success of his mission.151
The doctors had encouraged Don Bosco to take walks or rides in the open air, axl
he was very fond of this form of recreation. Thus, he would be seen walking
slowly with the help of a cane and supported by Viglietti, and others. Viglietti
would also take him for rides on the Oratory's one-horse carriage. One such ride
took place on December 16, by which time he could no longer walk.
This evening Father Rua and myself took Don Bosco out for a ride. On our
way back we sighted the cardinal walking under the porticoes of Victor
Emmanuel Blvd. Without hesitation I told our coachman to drive alongside.
Then I stepped down, caught up with the cardinal and asked him if he could
spare a moment as Don Bosco wished to have a word with him. "Oh! It's
Father John, dear Father John!" the cardinal exclaimed. He stepped up on the
carriage, and seating himself next to Don Bosco, he embraced him axl
kissed him affectionately. Meanwhile many people had gathered and were
watching the touching scene. I heard people remark: "How they love one
another!" The two venerable old men rode together as far as Cemaia Street.
There the cardinal got off, and we drove back to the Oratory. 1s2
Don Rosco's condition deteriorated steadily during the next four days. Viglietti
seems to have had a premonition that this was the beginning of the end.
For the past few days, Don Rosco's health has been getting progressively
worse. He can no longer walk and needs to be pushed along in a wheelchair.
His shortness of breath is extreme. Consequently he goes to bed at 7 o'clock
151 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VIl, pp. 63-70, "December 8, 1887,"
FDBM 1227, BI -5. The Piedmontese rhymes are: "Oh schina, povra schina IT'as fini
d'porte d' bascina." and "Oh gambe, povre gambe, I Che sie drite, che sie strambe, I
Seive sempre 'l me comfort, I Fina tant ch' i sia nen mort."
152 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. Vil, pp. 72f., "December 16, 1887,"
FDBM 1227 B6.

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Don Bosco's Last Illness
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in the evening and rises at 10 o'clock in the morning. He hears my Mass
and receives holy Communion in bed.
This evening, however, he insisted on going for a ride. He was carried
to the carriage in an armchair by Father Bonetti and myself. The ride seems
to have been good for him. As we were riding along, he told me to re-
member, once we got home, to convey this message to all Salesians in his
name: "All Salesians, superiors in particular, should treat our domestics
with great charity."
This evening the doctor found that Don Bosco's condition hal
deteriorated greatly. He ordered that he be put to bed.153
From December 20, 1887 to January 31, 1888, the day of his death, Don Bosco
never again left his sick room, in fact he never left his bed. This is Don Bosco's
last illness.
Part III. Don Bosco's Last Illness and Saintly Death
Having surveyed the period of Don Bosco's quasi-retirement and decline, with
particular attention to his condition since his return from Rome in May 1887,
we will now describe his last days. Viglietti's almost daily chronicle will still
give us the basic structure for this survey. But we will also draw on other
archival documents disc ussed above, especially on Enria's Memoir.
Introductory Comment of the Nature of Don Bosco's Last Illness
Don Bosco's last illness was really no new illness, but a recurrence, with aggra-
vated symptoms and various serious complications, of the same chronic cardio-
pulmonary condition. Thus, when he returned from his ride on the evening of
December 20, 1887, and took to his bed never to leave it again, Don Bosco en-
tered the last and fatal episode of the illness that had plagued him since 1846,
even traceable perhaps back to his student days.
As already indicated, the grave illness of 1846 was due to a bronchio-
pulmonary condition. The bronchitis degenerated into a bronchial pneumonia.
Thus, when Don Bosco was not yet 35, he already had developed a condition of
the respiratory apparatus which grew progressively worse and was the cause of
repeated relapses, among which the illness of 1871 and that of 1884 were the
most serious.154
153 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VIl, pp. 73-75, "December 20, 1887,"
FDBM 1227 B6f. It may have been the coachman's devoted service that prompted the
advice about domestics. Viglietti closes this entry with a marginal insertion: "Before
lying down, Don Bosco said to Father Rua: 'About Vigl ietti, I am handing him over
to you. He will be a great help to you. "'
154 Cf. notes 69, 42, 70, and 71 and related text, above.

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Journal of Saleslan Studies
As reported by Father Michele Molineris,155 in 1967 Dr. Gucci, a surgeon
and professor of medicine, made a study of Don Bosco's medical history from the
records. The recorded symptoms convinced him that Don Bosco had developed a
serious case of emphysema. This is an irreversible condition affecting that part
of the lungs where oxygen is received and the respiratory gases exchanged. The
alveoli are partly destroyed, so that pulmonary ventilation is diminished axl
breathing is gravely affected. It is this respiratory insufficiency that caused the
symptoms described in the various episodes of illness: painfully deep cough,
asthma, edematous extremities (e.g., swelling of legs and feet), rheumatic
conditions, cyanosis (blue coloration), weakened or irregular pulse, with further
complications involving the heart because of the diminished flow of blood to the
myocardium.
Similar and much aggravated symptoms accompanied the final illness of
1887-88. By this time the oxygenation of the blood in the alveolar network of
the lungs was so much reduced that the function s of other vital organs were also
seriously affected. Especially concerned were the heart, the liver and the kidneys.
This was Don Bosco's condition when he was put to bed on December 20, 1887.
On January 1, 1888, after 10 days in bed, Don Bosco experienced a re-
mission over the whole range of symptoms-respiration, asthma, irregular
pulse, cyanosis, etc. The word got around that Don Bosco had made a recovery.
In reality, however, the remission was not due to a change in condition; it was
just a reprieve obtained by desperately needed rest. This rest allowed the heart
muscle to regain strength. Don Bosco was never a sufferer from primary heart
disease. Heart trouble was not in the family's medical history. On the other
hand, we know that both Don Bosco's father and mother, as well as his brother
Joseph, died of pneumonia. When the heart muscle regained some strength, the
circulation improved, the pulse steadied, the cyanosis decreased, and the breath-
lessness was relieved. But it was now just a matter of time.
Dr. Fissore gave much the same diagnosis, when on December 30, 1887,
just as Don Bosco was "recovering," he was interviewed by M. Saint-Genest for
the Paris newspaper Le Figaro: The reporter writes:
I followed [Father Celestino Durando] to a waitmg room where two
physicians, Dr. Fissore and Dr. Albertotti, were in consultation. I ~
my question to Dr. F issore, and he replied: "Don Bosco is despaired of, axl
we cannot hold out any hope of recovery. He suffers from a cardio-
pulmonary disease and from lesions of the liver, with complications
affecting the spinal cord and with consequent paralysis of the lower limbs.
He can no longer speak. His kidneys and lungs are also affected. So you see
155 Michele Molineris, Don Bosco inedito. Quello che le biografie di Don Bosco
non dicono (Colle DB: ISBS, 1974), pp. 3 12-318, 323-330, 332-337; Vita episodica
di Don Bosco (Castelnuovo Don Bosco: ISBS, 1974), pp. 421-445.

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why there is no hope." " And to what do you attribute this illness?" "No
immediate cause is responsible for it. It is rather the result of a general
physical deterioration, itself brought about by a life time of overwork axi
aggravated by continuous pressures."156
In his biography, Dr. Albertotti's assessment of Don Bosco's condition is quite
similar.
By November 1887, the disease which already affected his heart, lungs, axi
kidneys took a sudden turn for the worse. This final stage was marked by a
critically high ratio of albumin in the urine, a daily occurrence. His spine
was now so weak that it could no longer support him. Consequently he Im
literally to be put to bed. And, except for a short period of illusory
remission, he kept to his sick bed to his dying day.157
The physicians, therefore, including Albertolli, agree on the nature of Don
Bosco's illness and on the cause of his death. As the above-mentioned Dr. Gucci
explains, it was a type of pneumonia that is common in debilitated, bedridden,
aged people suffering from chronic bronchio-pulmonary condition. In Don
Bosco's case, it was the fi nal stage of that disease. It is called hypostatic pneu-
monia; and it differs from common pneumonia in that it is caused by congestion
due to poor pulmonary ventilation and a weakened heart muscle. It is irreversible
even under treatment with a ntibiotics, precisely on account of the condition of
the heart muscle, which may even suffer paralysis.
This being the case, Dr. Albertotti's statement at the time of the sealing of the
coffin, that Don Bosco had died of"progressive myelitis" is puzzling indeed. He
writes:
I, the undersigned, Dr. Giovanni Albertotti, do hereby certify that the most
reverend Father Giovanni Bosco died [...] of progressive myelitis; and that
with Dr. Tommaso Bestente, I witnessed the placing of his body in the
l56 French original in Doc umenti XLIV, pp. 687f., FDBM 1194 A3f.; translated
and inserted in the Bollellino Salesiano's edition of Viglietti 's chronicle on Don
Bosco's last illness [Viglietti, Scrapbook-Style Collection 1886-1 896, FDBM 1230
E9f.].
Saint-Genest adds that on learning of the reporter's presence Don Bosco asked
that he be shown in, so he could thank him for his past kindness. "Don Bosco' s room
had the appearance of a monk's cell. He lay on a humble, small iron cot. The
expression on his face was gentle, almost angelic. He looked at me with kindness and
attempted a smile. With great effort he took my hand. I noticed his lips moving, and I
realized that he was attempting to speak to me. I bent over him and up close, and al-
most inaudibly he whispered into my ear: 'Thank you for coming Lo see me, Pray for
me.'"
l57 Albertotti, Chi era Don Bosco?, p. 78, FDBM 533 Bl2.

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Journal of Saleslan Studies
coffin [...], which was sealed in accordance with the regulations of the
Department of Public Health. Turin, February 2, 1888.158
It should be clearly understood that the true nature of Don Bosco's crippling
spinal ailment has not been ascertained. Albertotti himself, in the biography,
connected it with the Varazze illness of 1871,l59 which, as mentioned above, had
a bronchio-pulmonary origin. It is therefore believed that he described Don
Bosco's spinal condition as myelitis, citing it as the cause of death, in order to
counteract vicious rumors circulated in the anticlerical press, that Don Bosco was
ill with a venereal disease.160
It may have been on the basis of Albertotti's statement (perhaps made also
earlier during the illness) that Lady Herbert of Lea, writing in The Tablet of
London, introduced her biographical sketch of Don Bosco with the following no-
tice: "We grieve to say that we have received the most alarming accounts of the
health of Don Bosco, who is lying dangerously ill at the Mother House of the
Salesians in Turin. He is suffering from spinal consumption."161
The foregoi ng comments will (I hope) facilitate our survey of Don Bosco's last
illness as recorded by our chroniclers. This falls naturally into three periods: (1)
the first crisis, December 20-31; (2) the reprieve, or illusory "recovery," January
1-20; (3) the second fatal crisis, January 21-31.
I. The First Crisis: December 20-31,1887
Enria had been notified to be ready to take up his duties as sick-room attendant
He writes:
One day, before Don Bosco took to his bed definitively, he said to Father
Viglietti: "Go and tell Enria not to work too hard and not to tire himself
out, o therwise he will not be able to help me through the nights he will
have to spend at my bedside. The dear Father! He was more concerned about
the well-being of his boys than about himself. He knew only too well that I
had no other desire than to stand by him till his dying day. God [knows]!
That was my desire from the moment I had the good fortune of coming to
the Oratory. True, in the Oratory there were lads who were far worthier than
I as to virtue and spirit of sacrifice. But Don Bosco chose me and loved me
l58 "Morto f ...] in seguito a mielite lenta." Photocopy of the original in ASC
117: Tomba di Don Bosco, FDBM 754 B4. "Myelitis" is an inflammation of the
marrow in bone or spinal cord.
159 Cf. note 83 and related text. above.
160 An insinuation to this effect first appeared in the Turin newspaper la
Gazzetta del Popolo, and was then taken up in some fifty other Italian sheets [cf. re-
port and discussion in IBM XVI, 345-347].
161The Tablet, Saturday, December 31, 1887, p. 1058.

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always, in spite of my being the most unworthy of his sons. He read my
heart, and he knew that I would most gladly have given my life for his.162
The first day he was forced to take to his bed was for all a day of mourning.
By evening his condition was much worse. So I spent the whole night by
his bedside. It was a night of grief. The dear Father was in so much pain. He
could get no rest, no maller what position he took. His suffering must have
been unbearable. [.. .] And yet not once did he complain. He would say to
me: "My dear Enria, bear with me; for you shall have to spend many rough
nights [by my side]; but the Lord will reward you abundantly for the chari-
table service you render to me." At hearing these words, I tho ught my heart
would break. I would answer him: "What are you saying, Reverend Father?
My service is as nothing; my whole life would not suffice to make even a
small return for all the good you did to me. If my life were enough to re-
store you to good health, I am ready to offer it to God, as so many of my
companions did [when you were ill] in 187 1. [...] In spite of being so ill ,
Don Bosco received holy Communion every morning. The Reverend Father
Viglietti would celebrate Mass at the private altar set up in the adjoining
room. The door would be opened, and Don Bosco could then see and hear the
priest. With what recollect.ion he assisted at the holy Mass; and with what
faith he prayed at the elevation of the host. Don Bosco appeared on fire with
holy love as he adored Jesus in the holy Sacrament. On receiving holy
Communion he seemed no longer to be of this world. I would be kneeling
by his bed and observe his every movement. I can teslify that in those
moments Don Bosco appeared rapt into heaven.163
Enria and Viglietti stood guard day and night to the end. The latter's first entry
for this period also strikes an ominous note.
Don Bosco is seriously ill. He has frequent vomiting spells. We are at a
loss as to what to feed him. He cannot even sit up in bed. He gasps
frightfully for breath, and is running a temperature. This evening the doctor
frightened us all; in this situation he gave Don Bosco not more than four or
five days to live. I stand by his bedside and watch him day and night.
However, he is not at all perturbed; he even humors me. As I insisted in
holding his bowl of broth for him , he quipped: "I suppose you want it for
yourself." He can swallow only gelatin and liquid sherbets. But he insisted
on having the newtpaper read to him, and on seeing the special delivery rod
registered letters.1
162 Enria, Memoir, pp. 258f., FDBM 937 A5f.
163 Enria, Memoir, pp. 260-262, FDBM 937 A7-9.
164 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VIl, pp. 75f., "December 21, 1887,"
FDBM 1227 B7f.

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Journal of Salesian Studies
Through the evening of December 21, Viglieui spoon-fed him cold liquid food,
and Don Bosco experienced some relief.
At a quarter to eight, he quieted down and was able to speak with greater
ease; he took some crushed ice, some iced coffee, some liquid sherbet. At
half past eight, he took half a bowl of thin noodle soup. He appeared
considerably relieved. He said to me: "This afternoon, from about 4 o'clock
on, I thought that there was nothing for it but to die; I lost touch with
reality. Now I feel much better. After taking the soup, he joked: "Viglietti,
give me some of that iced coffee, and make sure it is good and hot." And he
laughed. This morning, December 22, at half past eleven, Dr. Vignola
called and made a thorough, hour-long examination of every part of the
patient's body. He prescribed a certain beef broth with meat extract <dh1,
and he prepared it himself. Don Bosco was to take it even if he felt
repugnance. The doctor assured us that there was no reason to be so
frightened now. He left us all much relieved, and especially relieved was his
poor grieving nephew.165
Don Bosco, however, was not deceived. His condition was just as serious the
next day. He knew how ill he really was, and wanted someone to be ready to a:l-
minister the last sacraments.
He said to me: "Viglietti, make sure you are not the only priest here to
attend me. I need someone here always ready for the Anointing." I assured
him: " Don Bosco, Father Rua is always on hand. In any case, your illness
is not so serious as to justify this kind of talk." Don Bosco persisted: "Does
everyone in the house know that I am so seriously ill?" "Yes, Don Bosco,"
I replied. "Every Salesian knows about your condition, not only in this
house but in every house anywhere in the world, and they all are praying for
you." "For my recovery?" mused Don Bosco, "I am on my way to eternity."
So saying, Don Bosco is moved and begins to cry. He has a wasted air
about him. Again he turned to me: "Make sure that the Holy Viaticum is
kept ready. As Christians, we gladly make to God the offering of our life."
[ ... ]
At half past twelve Don Bosco experienced renewed retching fits. He
asked me: "Is it not a pain for you to have to clean up this vomit?" "Don
Bosco," I answered, "Nothing is painful for me except to have to watch you
s uffer."
He added: "Convey my regards to your mo ther, and tell her to take pains
to raise her family in a Christian manner. Ask her also to pray for you, that
you may ever be a good priest and an instrument for the salvation of many
souls."
165 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VIl, pp. 77f., "December 21-22, 1887,"
FDBM 1227 B8f. It will be recalled that Viglietli was Dr. Vignolo's nephew.

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Father [Giovanni] Bonetti came in. Don Bosco raised his hand in
greeting and spoke to him affectionately with tears in his eyes. Don Bosco
often repeats the request that everything be kept in readiness for the
administration of the Anointing. He mentioned it to Father Rua, aid
remarked: ' 'True, I have that fixture (quell'arnese) there," and he pointed to
me, "but I'd like it better if there were more of you here with me."
At 2 o'clock, he took a tum for the worse. He turned to me: "Viglietti,
make sure to tell your friend, Mr. Lufs [Martf-Codolar], not to forget our
missionaries, and tell him that I shall ever remember him and his wonderful
family. All of you, do pray for me. Tell all your companions and confreres
to pray for me, that I may die in God's grace. I do not ask for anything
else." To Bishop Cagliero, he said: "Have you understood what you are to
tell the Holy Father, the reason why he must protect the missions? With the
pope's protection, you will go into Africa, you will cross Africa, then you
will enter into Asia, into Tartary, etc." [...]
At half past four, a protracted medical examination [of the patient] by
Drs. Vignola and Fissore began, for which they swung the bed to the middle
of the room. The doctors did not find any one thing fatally damaged. There
is hope if only the patient could take nourishment. At the moment Don
Bosco's condition appears somewhat improved. Dr. Vignola wanted to test
Don Bosco's streng th, and asked him to squeeze his hand as hard as he
could. Don Bosco warned him with a smile: "I shall hurt you, believe me."
"Just squeeze," the doctor told him. Don Bosco then did, and the doctor
quickly withdrew his hand, impressed with Don Rosco's strength.
At 5 o'clock, Don Bosco's confessor, Father [Giovanni Francesco]
Giacomelli came, and they were alone for three minutes-quick work.166
Enria tells us that Don Bosco needed to be coaxed into taking the prescribed
medicines. He would take them and say: "Taken with the right intention they
may do me some good." Enria remarks: "ll was evident that the medicines no
longer had any effect on him." Then he relates an interesting episode.
One night Don Bosco said to me: "I feel like having a drink of milk." "I cb
not keep any here in the room," I replied, "because the doctor forbade it and
had it removed." But he insisted: "I really feel that a litLle drink of milk
would do me good." "If you really want it," I answered, "I' ll go and get
some at once." "But how are you going to get it at this hour when all doors
are locked?" "Let me worry about that; I will manage." I placed on the night
table everything that he needed for his medicine and a drink of water, and
went out. I ran in a hurry to the stable, I roused the stableman and asked
him to milk a little milk for our beloved Father. When Don Bosco saw me
166 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VU, pp. 78-80 and Vol. VIll, pp. 3-6,
"December 23, 1887," FDBM 1227 B9f and Cl-3. Properly speaking, Tartary des ig-
nates the high plateau of west-central Asia.

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Journal of Salesian Studies
back so soon with a bowl of milk, he had a good laugh. Then he said to me:
"Poor dear Enria, all the trouble you have on my account! You may rest
assured that the Lord will reward you generously. For my part, I commend
you to the Lord and to Mary Help of Christians in my prayers." Who would
not have been moved by such tender words? How grateful our good Father
was for any little service rendered to him! One felt so elated as to want to
give one's life for him.167
On the day before Christmas, early in the morning, Don Bosco received Holy
Viaticum solemnly administered by Bishop Cagliero. Enria writes:
With what faith he waited for Jesus that morning. He lay tranquil m
serene, praying all the while with great trust. In the meantime in the church
of Mary Help of Christians altar boys and cler~ were getting ready for the
pontifical administration of the holy Viaticum. 68
In his entry, Viglietti adds details and gives us important information besides.
At half past seven preparations were being made for the administration of
the Holy Viaticum. Don Bosco, in tears, begged Father Bonetti and myself:
"Please, do help me to receive Jesus worthily. I am confused." And he
prayed: "Into your hands, 0 Lord, I entrust my spirit." The procession with
Bishop Cagliero, solemnly accompanied by clergy, altar boys, and all the
youngsters, arrives. Don Bosco is in tears; but, robed in his stole, he stands
out like an angel. What a touching scene, and what a solemn moment!
Everyone was crying loudly, the bishop, too. [...]
At half past ten, the doctors came and carried out their examination.
Don Bosco's condition appears to have improved. [...] Since yesterday
afternoon, the vomiting spells have been subsiding. Since this morning
there has been a notable improvement. Don Bosco's breathing comes more
easily, there is none of the former restlessness. He slumbers and seems to be
resting quietly. He is still completely drained of strength and does not speak.
But at 6 o'clock, [he spoke to me and said:] "Poor dear Viglietti, you had no
idea what caring for a sick person entailed, had you? You don't seem to
know what to say or what to do any more."
At 10 o'clock in the evening, he called for Father Rua [and said to
him]: "I would like an additional priest to watch with Father Viglietti at my
beds ide tonight. I may not last till morning."
At half past ten , Don Bosco said to me: "Father Viglie tti , go and look
in my desk, and you will find a little book of my memoirs. You know
which book I mean. Take it and make sure to give it to Father Bonetti, for I
would not like it to fall into the hands of any Tom, Dick or Harry. At 11
167 Emia, Memoir, pp. 264f., FDBM 937 Al lf.
168 Emia, Memoir, pp. 268f., FDBM 937 B3f.

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o'clock Bishop Cagliero administered the Extreme Unction. Don Bosco
spoke of nothing but of etemity.169
In a bulletin dated December 26, Father Rua reported to the confreres:
The daily papers have already publicized the fact that Don Bosco is gravely
ill. Unfortunately I can only confirm the sad news.
The crisis began on the sixth of this month when much to his sorrow
he was forced to leave off celebrating Mass. He made an exception the
following Sunday, when he insisted on celebrating. He got through only by
dint of extreme effort. His chronic ailments grew worse with every passing
day. On Tuesday last, December 20, he still appeared at the noon-day meal
as usual, after which he was taken for a ride in the carriage. But he was
unable to walk to it; he had to be carried in an armchair from his room to
the carriage, and back after the ride. Wednesday, by doctor's order, he kept
to his bed; the doctor feared the onset of bronchitis. Between Thursday ax!
Friday, his condition worsened to the point that we feared for his life. This
critical condition persisted through the following days. He himself asked for
the Holy Viaticum, which was administered in solemn form by Bishop
Cagliero. [...] Saturday night, sensing a worsening in his condition, he
asked to be given the Extreme Unction. [...]
As of this writing, his condition appears less grave, but it continues to
be critical. The doctors have ordered that he be kept perfectly quiet, and have
forbidden visits of any sort even by confreres of this house, except by those
few who are in charge of caring for him .110
The bulletin sent out on the following day is still very cautious:
Regretfully I cannot report any improvement in [Don Bosco's] condition.
On the contrary, this morning the doctors found his condition to have
deteriorated somewhat, even though he was able to get some sleep through
part of the night. [...]
P.S.: Our beloved Father's illness has been diagnosed by the physicians
as "cardio-pulmonary disease." This is in addition to the cerebro-spinal
condition which has slowly been developing over the years.
!69 Viglieni, Original Chronicle, Vol. YID, pp. 6-9, "December 24, 1887,"
FDBM 1227 C3f. "Into your hands [...]", spoken in Latin: "In manus tuas, Domine,
commendo spiritum meum" [Luke 23:26 from Psalm 30(31): 6, Vulgata]. "You don't
seem to know [...]", spoken in Piedmontese: "Sai pi ni cos dl ni cos fe."
The booklet mentioned in the last paragraph is the so-called Spiritual Testament,
for which cf. note 73, above.
l?O Rua, Dear Confreres, December 26, 1887, FDBM 437 08.

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Journal of Salesian Studies
The latest medical examination just now completed (6 P.M.) reveals
that the ultimate outcome of the illness is still in doubt; but there has been
no retrogression.171
Although Father Rua spoke cautiously, as was to be expected, according to
Viglietti the Viaticum and the Last Anointing seemed to inaugurate a period of
"recovery." The day after Christmas Don Bosco actually felt better.
At half past ten, the doctors examined Don Bosco and found his condition
improved. He said to me: "Let's wait and see what the knowledge and the
expertise of three physicians is able to achieve."
At a quarter to five, the cardinal came to say good-bye before leaving for
Rome. He was crying like a child; he embraced and kissed Don Bosco
several time, then gave him his blessing. 172
Cardinal Alimonda had been a frequent visitor before, and visited Don Bosco
again before leaving for Rome, from where he regularly inquired about Don
Bosco' s condition. Enria mentions one such visit.173 Father Cerruti, in his short
memoir, has a longer account of a visit by the cardinal on December 30. Don
Bosco, like many saints at the point of death, seems to have experienced some
anxiety about his own salvation.
At 4:15 P.M., His Eminence Cardinal Alimonda was ushered into the
patient's room. He put his arms around Don Bosco and kissed him tenderly.
It was a most moving scene. Don Bosco took off his little night cap, <nl
the first words he spoke to the cardinal were: "I commend my soul to your
prayers." Then he added: "I commend my Congregation, too;" and he began
to cry. With encouraging words His Eminence spoke to him of conformity
with the will of God and of trust in God, reminding Don Bosco that he hal
labored hard and Jong in God's service. Meanwhile the cardinal noticed that
Don Bosco was still holding the cap in his hands; he took it from him <nl
placed it on Don Bosco's head. Don Bosco was deeply moved by the
gesture. He said: "I have done all I could; now may God's will be done....
Hard times, Your Eminence!; I have been through hard times.... But the
pope's authority, the pope's authority! ... I have told Bishop Cagliero here to
tell the Holy Father that the Salesians are committed to the defense of the
pope's authority." There was a fiery vehemence in his words. Bishop
Cagliero, who was standing by the foot of the bed, replied: "Yes, my da'
Don Bosco, rest assured that I will deliver your message to the Holy
171 Rua, Dear Confreres, December 27, 1887, FDBM 437 D9.
172 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. Vill, p. 10, "December 26, 1887," FDBM
1227 C5. The words, "Let's wait and see [...]," spoken in Latin: "Videamus quod
[=quid] valeat scientia et peritia trium doctorum."
173 Enria, Memoir, p. 269, FDBM 936 B4.

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Father." The cardinal changed the subject. He said: "As for yourself, Father
John, have no fear. You have so often urged others to be prepared for death."
Bishop Cagliero continued: "You so often spoke to us about being ready for
death; it was one of your favorite subjects." "I preached to others," countered
Don Bosco in all humility, "now I need others to remind me." Don Bosco
then insisted on having the cardinal's blessing; and on leaving, the cardinal,
deeply moved, embraced and kissed him once again.174
In his entry for December 27, Don Bosco's real name day, Viglietti describes
some unusual activity around the patient.
At 12 noon, he was due to undergo some procedure. Dr. Albertotti was
assisted by Father Bonetti and myself. We turned Don Bosco over so
reoo [clumsily] that he almost fell out of bed. I was holding him with his
against my chest.
After this operation it became necessary to move him to another bed. I
sent for Father Rua, Father Leveratto and Father [Domenico] Belmonte. The
four of us and the doctor were arguing over the best manner of effecting the
transfer. Don Bosco had a suggestion: "Here is what you must do," he said.
"Tie a strong rope around my neck and swing me off one bed and onto the
other." The transfer was a near disaster. Father Rua fell backward on to the
new bed, with Don Bosco on top of him. I held on and lifted Don Bosco,
and Father Rua got out from under. It was a timely move [on my part], for
if Don Bosco had gone down, that is, had been let go, he would have crashed
bodily on Father Rua. Don Bosco thought it was funny. [...].
Later, knowing that the new bed in which he had been put was my own
bed, he began to worry that I would remain without one. At half past four,
with [Giuseppe] Buzzetti's and Giuseppe Rossi's help, Don Bosco was
transferred back to his own bed, this time with no great difficulty. 175
The need to move the patient from one bed to another arose out of concern for
cleanliness, for by this time Don Bosco had lost control of his bodily functions.
He would express his regret to Viglietti: "Poor Viglietti ! There is a messy job I
got you into."
In the same entry, Viglietti notes the great interest in Don Bosco's con-
dition in the press and among the people, and describes above all the prayers and
174 Cerruti, Memoir, p. 4, "December 30, 1887,'' FDBM 963 Al 1.
175 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. YID, pp. llf., "December 27, 1887,"
FDBM 1227 C5f. December 27, the feast of St. John the Evangelist, was Don
Bosco's real name day. But the custom had prevailed to celebrate his name day on
June 24, the feast of St. John the Baptist.
It is not clear what the procedure might have been. The Italian, "Si dovea operare
attorno a Lui," does not specify. It was probably to check on a painful growth or sore
at the base of the spine, perhaps the same which later required a surgical procedure.

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Journal of Saleslan Studies
religious exercises offered everywhere for his recovery. He adds: "Even though
Don Bosco was asked numerous times to pray to God for a cure, he has always
refused. He would say instead: 'May God's holy will be done in my regard."' He
writes further: "Don Bosco insists that the physicians tell him the truth about
his condition. 'You know that I am not afraid,' he declares. 'I am at peace llXi
ready to go."'176
In his bulletin of December 28 to the confreres, Father Rua speaks
hopefully of signs of a "recovery." But he hastens to add that, according to the
doctors, "the improvement may only be temporary." 177 Viglietti in fact speaks
of a relapse that very evening.
This evening Don Bosco was very ill, so much so that he feared his hour
had come. He had me fetch Father Rua and Bishop Cagliero. He said to
them: "Promise me that you will love one another and bear with one
another as brothers should." Quoting, he added: "Bear one another's burdens.
Show yourselves in all respects models of good deeds... The help of God and
of Mary Most Holy shall not fail you. Recommend the frequent reception of
Communion and devotion to Mary Most Holy. Ask everyone to pray for
my eternal salvation." At 10 o'clock, he received the papal blessing from
Bishop Cagliero, and had the bishop recite the act of contrition for him. He
said to the bishop: "Spread the devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary in
Tierra de! Fuego. The number of souls that Mary Help of Christians wishes
to gain for heaven through the Salesians is beyond imagining." Father
Bonetti asked Don Bosco for a keepsake for the [Salesian] Sisters. Don
Bosco answered: "Obedience. [Tell them] to practice obedience and to see
that it is practiced." [...] At 1 o'clock he asked for something to drink. This
was denied because of his continuous vomiting spells. So he remarked: "We
must pay for a drink of our own water." And he added: "One must learn how
to live, and one must learn how to die. Both are important."178
II. Period of Illusory Recovery: January 1-20, 1888
Viglietti's next few entries record a steady improvement in Don Bosco's condi-
tion. This is reflected in Father Rua's reports to the confreres. The French-lan-
guage bulletin of December 31 reads:
176 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. Vill, pp. 13 and 15, "December 28,
1887," FDBM 1227 C6 and 8.
177 Rua, Dear Confreres, December 28, 1887, FDBM 437 010.
178 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. Vill, pp. 17-19, "December 29, 1887,"
FDBM 1227 C8f.
"Bear one another's [...)," quoted in Latin: "Alter alterius onera portate [...]''
[Galatians 6:2, Vulgata] ; "In omnibus teipsum praebe exemplum bonorum operum"
[Titus 2:7, Vulgata]; "We must pay [...]," quoted in Latin: "Aquam nostram praetio
bibimus" [Lam 5:4, Vulgata].

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85
Following a consultation, Drs. Fissore, Vignolo, Bestenti, and Albertotti,
issued the following statement: the immediate danger is passed; there has
been very considerable improvement; the fever has subsided, as have the
recurring vomiting fits; the fluid which was present behind the right lung
has been almost completely absorbed; there is hope, in the best prognosis,
of further continued progress. [To the above may I ~ that] Don Bosco's
mind is completely lucid and that he is eager to return to work for his
children.179
Father Rua' s bulletin of January 5, 1888, is even more optimistic:
I am truly relieved and happy to report that our beloved Father is getting
better every day. He can breathe more freely; he can speak more easily <lld
more clearly; and he can more effectively take nourishment. The physicians
begin to hold out the hope that he may shortly be convalescent, and that not
long thereafter he may be able to leave his bed.180
Apparently, however, even though physically improved, Don Bosco did not feel
quite right. He said to his secretary:
Viglietti, I think it would be a good idea to tell Don Rua to keep an eye on
me, because my head is no longer working. I don't know whether it is
morning or evening, or what day or what year it is. I am disoriented md
don't know where I am. I do recognize people, but only faintly, and I can't
recall the circumstances [of my relationship with them]. I don't know
whether I am praying or not, whether it is a Sunday or a weekday. You
people have got to help me. 181
It was evident, however, that Don Bosco was much improved in every way. So
Viglietti records:
This evening, following a consultation by the physicians, we started Don
Bosco on a diet of grated bread porridge, an egg, followed by some coffee.
Before tasting the food, Don Bosco took off his cap, made the sign of the
cross, and prayed with tears in his eyes. I was very much afraid that the food
would be bad for him. But he retained everything nicely. After eating, he felt
really good. He inquired about a thousand things, about political
developments, about the pope, Bismarck, and Crispi. He wanted to know
179 Rua, Bulletin de la sante de Dom Bosco, December 3 1, 1887, 11 :15 A.M .,
FDBM 437 E2.
180 Rua, Dear Confreres, January 5, 1888, FDBM 437 E5.
181 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VIll, p. 22, "January 6, 1888," FDBM
1227 Cll.

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how things were going in the house [...]. He said to me: "Viglietti, [...]
how does a person after twenty-one days in bed, not talcing any nourishment
and not even being in possession of his mental faculties, all of a sudden
regain consciousness and understanding, feel strong enough to get out of
bed, and experience the old urge to get back to work? [...]" He OOckd: "'What
God can do by his divine power you, 0 Virgin, can obtain through your
intercessory prayer.' There are secrets which one must carry with him to the
grave." I insisted: "But you will tell us, surely?" "No," he replied. "One
must stand in awe before the supernatural and inquire no further. One recog-
nizes God's intervention, but whys and hows are best left to him. Evidently,
my hour has not yet come. It may be soon, but not now." 182
For the next dozen days Don Bosco's condition remained stable and perhaps im-
proved even further. He received visits from important persons on January 8 an
20. So Viglietti reports.
Today the Duke of Norfolk called on Don Bosco. The newspapers have been
speaking of him as Queen Victoria's envoy to the pope. On seeing Don
Bosco, he knelt at his bedside. The interview lasted about half an hour. They
spoke of the situation in his country. The Duke pleaded for the
establishment of a Salesian house like the Oratory in London and of
missions in China. He accepted messages from Don Bosco for the Holy
Father. Then he received Don Bosco's blessing and left.
This evening Don Bosco said to me: "Here is the situation. Don Bosco
already spent his last penny before the onset of this illness. There has been
no money since; there is none now. His little orphans, however, have not
stopped asking for bread. Don Bosco will no longer be able to travel around
and beg; so let those who have it in their hearts to give alms give them
without being asked. 183
182 Viglieui, Original Chronicle, Vol. Vill, pp. 23-25, "January 7, 1888,"
FDBM 1227 C ll f. Anti-Catholic Adolf von Bismarck (1815 -1898), of Kulturkampf
fame, and left-wing politician Francesco Crispi (1819-1901) were prime ministers of
Germany and Italy, respectively."What God can do [...],"quoted in Latin: "Quod Deus
potentia tu prece, Virgo, poles" [St. Bernard].
183 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. Vill, pp. 25-27, "January 8, 1888,"
FDBM 1227 C12-Dl. It is not stated here whether this remark on charitable giving
was occasioned by the visit from the rich duke. But earlier in the chronicle Viglietti
reports Don Bosco's strict views on the use of money by the rich. He relates that Don
Bosco had wanted someone to publish a pamphlet on that topic, but that he had met
with such opposition because of his strict views that he dropped the subject.
Recently, however, in a dream, the Virgin Mary had reprimanded him for his silence
about the matter. She branded the ill use of money by the rich, adding in Latin: "If
what is over and above were to be given to the poor, much greater would be the num-
ber of the elect." She accused of cowardice the priest who is afraid to preach about the
duty of giving what is over and above to the poor (Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol.

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[...] Don Rosco's condition is improving slowly but steadily. All he
needs is to get some of his strength back, so that he can leave his bed. He
no longer feels any real pain. Since January 15 he has been hearing holy
Mass and receiving holy Communion from me every moming.184
Viglietti dared to hope, but the relapse was in effect even as he was expressing
the hope of complete recovery.
III. The Final Crisis and Don Bosco's Saintly Death: January
21-31, 1888
1. Sudden and Inexorable Relapse: January 21-28, 1888
The final crisis set in following, if not in consequence of, a small surgical pro-
cedure. In the next entry (January 22), Viglietti writes:
Don Rosco's condition has deteriorated slightly in the past couple of days.
This morning he heard my Mass and received Communion. At 10 o'clock
he had the visit of the archbishop of Cologne. Then the doctors decided to
go ahead with a surgical procedure designed to remove a fleshy growth at the
base of the spine. Dr. Vignolo performed the surgery with one stroke; all
went well. Don Bosco gratefully took my uncle's hand. Now he feels
completely relieved.185
Father Sala asked him how he felt Don Bosco replied: "They carved me up in a
masterful way." "Did you feel much pain," Sala insisted. He answered: 'The
piece of flesh they cut off did not feel a thing!" 186 Two days later, Viglietti
reports a visit from Archbishop Franc,:ois Richard of Paris, and then adds: "Don
Bosco is again very ill. The doctors found him returned Lo the condition of a
month ago." His next entry is even more gloomy:
Today Don Rosco's condition is very serious. He begs [the people around
him] to prompt devout ejaculatory prayers to him. This e ve ning it was
painful to see him trying to speak. [...] Bishop Cagliero mentioned that he
intended to go to Rome, and Don Bosco said to him: "Wait till after-" 187
VII, Pf.· 18-20, "June 4, 1887," FDBM 1226 E3f.].
1 4 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. Vill, pp. 28f., "January 20, 1888,"
FDBM 1227 D2.
l85 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. Vill, pp. 29f., FDBM 1227 D2f. For "at
the base of the spine" Viglietti writes: "nelle parti inferiori della schiena," perhaps
out of a sense of modesty.
186 Sala, Memoir, p. 9, FDBM 1222 Dl.
l 87 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. Vill, pp. 30 and 32, "January 25 and 26,
1888," FDBM 1227 D3f.

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Journal of Saleslan Studies
The disease was making inexorable progress. Don Bosco found it
increasingly more difficult to breathe. He was in terrible pain; but he never
complained. He kept praying: "May God's holy will be done in all things."
[.. .] What a marvelous example of self-sacrifice and resignation our good
Father Don Bosco left us!188
Urged by Father Bonetti to call to mind that Jesus on the cross suffered torture
without being able to move either to the right or lo the left, Don Bosco
answered: "Yes, I think of him all the time."189
But even in the midst of excruciating pain his lucidity of mind and his sense
of humor never failed. Sala relates:
One evening I was summoned to Don Bosco's bedside, and I went up in a
hurry. Father Francesia went with me. We had to lift Don Bosco bodily,
place a cushion under him, and then lower him on it so as to alleviate the
pain which the bed sores and the wound [of the recent operation] caused him.
Don Bosco said to me: "You could have done it by yourself. There was no
need to call in such a celebrity [Francesia] ." And he laughed heartily.
One other evening he was experiencing much pain, and from time to
time he would move about in an effort lo find a more comfortable position.
At that point the physician in attendance [Albertotti] happened to come in.
Don Bosco nodded in my direction to indicate he wanted to have a word with
me. I put my ear close to his mouth, and he whispered to me with a twinkle
in his eye: "Tell the doctor that he would win undying fame if he could find
a way to replace buttocks when they hurt" Without further ado, I repeated
the willy sally to the doctor, while Don Bosco laughed to the amusement of
those who stood by his bed.190
One day Don Bosco said to [Father Sala]: "See to it that you have a place
ready for my burial, because if it is not ready well before I die, I will arrange
for the corpse to be put in your room." Negotiations were in progress at the
time to obtain a lot in the Turin cemetery exclusively for the burial of
Salesians. Thal arrangement had been in the plans for several years. Father
Sala promised Don Bosco that he would attend to the matter in earnest. As a
matter of fact, it was Father Sala who, after intense negotiations, obtained
permission for Don Bosco to be buried at Valsalice. It seems that Don
188 Enria, Memoir, pp. 265f., FDBM 937 A12f.
189 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VIII, p. 33, "January 27, 1888," FDBM
1227 04.
190 Sala, Memoir, pp. 4f., FDBM 1222, C8f. Don Bosco's reported words in
Italian are: "Si farebbe un onore immortale se trovasse ii modo di cambiare le natiche
ogni qua/ volta Jan male."

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Bosco had known beforehand that he would soon have to leave this
world. 191
Enria underscores Don Bosco's concern for the Congregation and its affairs.
Don Bosco sent for the Reverend Father Rua and had a long conversation
with him. He also spoke with all the members of his council. I have no idea
what he discussed with Father Rua. He must have given him directives for
the good of the congregation and of his beloved sons, and must have
recommended that they always keep alive the spirit of the Oratory. He also
had a long conversation with Bishop Cagliero, in which he must have
entrusted to him his dear sons and daughters scattered throughout the
missions of [South] America.192
Father Sala was a trusted member of the general council, as well as a very close
confidant and "favorite son" of Don Bosco. The good father could speak freely to
him. Sala writes:
Don Bosco suffers, the poor dear, not so much from the pain as from the
inconvenience he thinks he is causing us. He said to me: "You know how
punctilious I have always been about cleanliness. Now there is no way I can
keep clean (I am lying in my own excrement)."193
One night, on seeing the terrible pain he was in, I asked: "Don Bosco what
can I do to alleviate your suffering a little?" [He answered:] "Pray." But then
he added: " I seem to have sunk into a hole." Immediately I positioned one
arm under his thighs and the other under his back, and carefully lifted him
up bodily, while Father Viglietti placed a little cushion under him. This
operation required my holding him several minutes. When I put him down I
said: "Poor dear Don Bosco, I must have hurt you a lot." [He answered:]
"On the contrary you sho uld say, 'Poor dear Sala who had to work so hard'
B ut when the right time comes I'll take care of paying you back for this
good deed."194
Two days before the feast of St. Francis [Jan. 27] (I believe it was), I
happened to find myself alone in his room. I took advantage of a moment
when his breathing seemed a little calmer, and said to him: "Don Bosco, I
can see you are in great pain." "Yes," he answered, "but all things pass
away, and so will the pain." He joined his hands deeply moved and began to
191 Enria, Memoir, p. 273, FDBM 937 B8.
192 Enria, Memoir, p. 274, FDBM 9937 B9.
l93 Sala, Memoir, p. 5, FDBM 1222 C 9. Don Bosco's reported words for "I am
lying in my own excrement" are in Italian, "sono tutto immerdato."
194 Sala, Memoir, pp. Sf., FDBM 1222 C9f.

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Journal of Saleslan Studies
pray. I let him rest for a little while; then I spoke again: "Don Bosco," I
said, "it must be a source of great satisfaction for you to know that, after a
life of privation and toil, you have established the Salesian work in
practically all parts of the world." "Yes," he replied. "Whatever I did, I did it
for the Lord. I could have done more... My sons will carry on the work."
After a pause he added: "Our congregation is under divine guidance and under
the protection of Mary Help of Christians."195
In his exhausted and feverish condition, Don Bosco often slipped into deep rever-
ies or into outright delirium. Sala reports:
One evening he said to us: "See if you can fix me so I can get some rest."
We arranged him as well as we could, and he seemed to be dozing off
quietly. But of a sudden he clapped his hands and cried out: "Come quickly,
save those young people. Mary, help the m. Mare!" ["Mother!" in
Piedmontese) . "Don Bosco, we are here with you," I said to reassure him.
[Coming out of his reverie,) he asked: "Where are we?"l96
Enria reports similar episodes.
One night, he dozed off momentarily and immediately began to dream. He
spoke aloud and said: "What do you want? Whom are you looking for? What
does that boy want?" He was looking intently toward the end of the room.
[...) I then said to him: "Reverend Father, there is no one there." He opened
his eyes, looked at me with a smile, and said: "There seemed to be a boy
there, and I thought he was in need of something." The youngsters were
always uppermost in Don Bosco's thoughts. 197
Don Bosco's condition was getting progressively worse. He was so short of
breath that he could hardly talk. He ran a temperature all the time. He
suffered excruciating pains from the spinal cord. In spite of all this, Don
Bosco was never heard to complain. [...] He would lift his arms and say:
"All for the glory of God and of his most holy Mother." During the night
before the feast of St. Francis de Sales he cried many times: "Mare! Mare!"
["Mother! Mother!" in Piedmontese] He was shouting so loud that he could
be heard from far away. I watched all his movements, but did not dare
interfere, as he might be having some supernatural vision. Don Bosco may
have been seeing his own mother and calling to her, or he may have been
calling on Mary. I had been standing straight by his bed, watching him, for
well over four hours. All of a sudden he lifted his arms. I bent over him to
find out what he might want, and tried to bolster his head. But Don Bosco
195 Sala, Memoir, pp. 6f., FDBM 1222 ClOf.
196 Sala, Memoir, p. 3, FDBM 1222 C7.
197 Enria, Memoir, p. 266, FDBM 937 Bl.

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put his arms around me and with all his might tried to pull himself up so as
to change position. But the effort only intensified the unbearable pain in his
spine and caused him to cry out: "My dear Enria, the pain is excruciating. If
this situation continues for any length of time, I don't think I can endure
it." Then regretting (so I believe) having spoken these words, he raised his
eyes to heaven and exclaimed firmly: "May God's will be done in all
things!"l 98
Viglietti concurs. On January 28, he writes:
Throughout yesterday, last night and this morning, he was very often
delirious. I heard him cry repeatedly: "They are in !rouble!" or "Forward,
always forward!" He often calls our names. This morning he called out as
many as 20 Limes, "Mare ! Mare!" ["Mother! Mother!" in Piedmontese.] For
the past few hours he has been praying with his hands joined and calling: "O
Mary, Mary!" To all he says: ''I'll see you in Paradise." To Father Bonetti
he said: "Tell the boys that I shall be waiting for them all in Paradise." This
morning he received the scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. He dispenses
final keepsakes. [...] On being shown the picture of Mary Help of
Christians, he said: "I have always placed all my trust in Mary Help of
Christians." [...] Again turning to Father Bonetti, he said: "If the Sisters
observe the rules they have received, their eternal salvation is assured."
The physicians found his condition critical. They hope that he will hold
on for a while, but they no longer speak of a recovery. Don Bosco inquired
about his own condition, and Dr. Fissore replied: "Things may be better
tomorrow; today the bad weather is against us." Don Bosco smiled and,
pointing up with his index finger, replied: ''Tomorrow? Tomorrow I am off
on a long journey."199
2. Hope No More: January 29,1888
January 29 was a critical day. In fact it seemed that the end had come. It is Sala's
last entry.
198 Emia, Memoir, pp. 269-271, FDBM 937 B4-6.
l99 Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. Vill, pp. 33-36, "January 28, 1888."
FDBM 1227 04-6. "They are in trouble," may refer to the Salesians in France. It is
known that Father Paul Albera, director at Marseilles and provincial in France, was
not at Don Bosco's side, and that Don Bosco (according to Lemoyne) called out Paul's
name in his delirium: "Paolino, Paolino, dove sei? perche non vieni" (Paul, Paul,
where are you; why don't you come to me?) Lemoyne adds: All present believed he
was calling Father Paul Albera, director of the house in Marseilles"[Documenli
X:XXVII, 167, FDBM 1148 E12]. This episode is not recorded in our chronicles.
For the story of Father Albera's absence during the final crisis, cf. Joseph
Boenzi"s article, "Paolo Albera's Visits during Don Bosco's Last Illness" on page 99
of this issue of the Journal of Salesian Studies.

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Journal of Salesian Studies
On the morning of the feast of St. Francis, I notified him that Mass hal
begun. I opened the door of the room onto the [adjoining] chapel for him.
He joined his hands and began to pray. After the elevation he whispered to
me: "What if I should throw up after receiving holy Communion?" I urged
him not to worry and assured him that there would be no problem. At
communion time I let him know that the Lord was about to come to him,
to bring comfort to his soul. I put the stole on him and a new napkin before
him. He received holy Communion, and I prompted a few words of thanks-
giving, which he repeated with genuine emotion. This was the last time that
our dear Don Bosco received our Lord.200
Viglietti adds considerable detail.
This morning everyone seemed to agree that Don Bosco should not be given
communion, since he is most of the time unconscious. But I objected. I
believed that at that critical moment the Lorcl would rouse and strengthen
him. I celebrated Mass, and when I brought him Communion he lay in an
unconscious stupor. I said the words, "May the Body of our Lorcl" loudly,
and at that moment he gave a start, looked at the host, joined his hands
[received Communion] and then remained recollected [for a while]. Later he
relapsed into the delirious state in which he continues even at this moment,
5 o'clock P.M. [...] He no longer responds to anything, except when some
one speaks to him of paradise or of the soul's salvation. Then he signifies
his approval by nodding his head.
This evening, he kept on repeating Scriptural texts which have been
familiar to him throughout his life of charitable activity: "Love your
enemies;" "Do good to those who persecute you;" "Seek first the kingdom
of God;" "Cleanse me from my si n." Father Bonetti prompted the
ejaculatory prayer: "Mary, mother of grace, defend us from the enemy." Don
Bosco continued: "And receive us at the hour of death." [...] [He] was lrard
to whisper repeatedly: "Jesus! Jesus! Mary! Mary!" "Jesus and Mary, I give
you my heart and my soul," adding: "Into your hands, 0 Lord, I commend
my spirit." Then more audibly: "Mare, Mare, ["Mother, Mother," in
Piedmontese], open for me the gates of heaven!" Today he exclaimed
hundreds of times: "Mare! Mare! Tomorrow! Tomorrow!"201
200 Sala, Memoir, pp. 7f., FDBM 1222 Cllf.
201 Viglielli, Original Chronicle, Vol. VIIl, pp. 36-39, "January 29, 1888,"
FDBM 1227 D6f.
"May the body of Our Lord [...]:" in the pre-Vatican II Latin Mass, in placing the
host on the tongue of the communicant the priest said: "Corpus Domini nostri Jesu
Christi custodial animam tuam in vitarn aetemam. Amen." The other Latin phrases
(some quoted approximately) are: "Diligite inimicos vestros," "Benefacite his qui vos
persequuntur" [Matthew 5: 44, Vulgata]; "Quaerite primum regnum Dei" [Matthew
6:33 Vulgata]; "A peccato meo munda me" [Psalm 50(51):4, Vulgata]; "Maria, mater

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Enria, with his special effusion of love and filial piety, strikes the most omi-
nous note.
It was January 29, 1888, feast of St. Francis de Sales, the patron of the
Salesian Oratory. Our good Father's condition was getting worse. By
evening he was totally broken. I had to leave the room momentarily and I
happened to meet [Giuseppe] Buzzelli. "What news?" he asked. I told him
the bad news. He replied: "I am afraid that St. Francis will take him away
from us and up to heaven." That was a truly painful night for our beloved
Father. He could hardly breathe; he could not even swallow liquids any
longer, and we had to limit ourselves to moisten his lips which were
parched by burning fever. At about 2 o'clock in the morning he gave a start
from a fit of breathlessness. I tried to lift him up, and he put his arms
around me. At that moment, I thought that he would die in my arms. I
prayed with all my heart: "Lord, take me, but let our good Father live."
Gradually he calmed down and then said in a breathless whisper: " Mary Help
of Christians, pray for us." He added repeatedly: "May God's will be done in
all things." That painful moment will always remain etched on my mind.202
For some reason (about which we can only speculate) Viglietti's chronicle peters
out at this point. For the crucial days, January 30-31, he gives us only a few
badly styled jottings. From the little he tells us we can conclude that he was pre-
sent in the room part of the time. This is corroborated by Enria. But apparently
he did not witness what must be regarded as the most important events of that
night. For the morning of January 30, after noting Don Bosco's unconscious,
hopeless condition, Viglietti merely mentions that Bishop Cagliero and Father
Lazzero recited prayers and imparted the blessings of the dying. He adds that
everyone present was then allowed to kiss Don Bosco's hand.
For the early hours of January 31, Viglieui's last jottings, completed with
several inserted additions, read as follows:
At a quarter to one, Buzzetti being also present, Don Bosco looked at me
twice intently for some time, then he placed his hand on my head [as I was
kneeling at his bedside]. Buzzetti remarked with tears in his eyes: "This is
his last good-bye, his last blessing for his faithful S[ecretary]. I have never
seen him look at anyone in this way, and it had to be you." I prompted
ejaculatory prayers. At a quarter to two Don Bosco entered into agony.
Father Rua and Bishop Cagliero recited the ritual prayers. The death-rattle
lasted until a quarter to five. Then, as the Angelus rang out from the bells of
gratiae, tu nos ab hoste protege, et mortis hora suscipe" [Roman Liturgy]; "In manus
tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum" [Luke 23:26 from Psalm 30(31 ): 6,
Vulgata].
202 Enria, Memoir, pp. 274-276, FDBM 937 B9-11.

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our church, Don Bosco's raspinf breath quieted down. Half a minute later he
was dead. He was in paradise.20
It seems legitimate to conclude that, except for the personal episode just
recorded, he was not present during those last few hours. He must have been ex-
hausted and probably ill, from the physical and emotional strain, and was there-
fore forced at a certain point to leave the room.204
Therefore, for the de tails of that last day, and especially for the events which
took place in the sick room in those few crucial hours before Don Bosco went to
the Lord, we rely on Enria's recollections.
By Monday morning [January 30], Don Bosco's right arm was completely
paralyzed. He still spoke occasional words to Father Rua, to Bishop
Cagliero, to Father Viglietti, and to a few others who were present. Then he
whispered: "May God's will be done in all things;" adding repeatedly:
" Mary, Mary;" "Pray, pray!" Those were, I might say, his last words. By
midday he had lost all speech. All the superiors stood around his bed. Not
being able to move his right arm, he pointed to heaven with his left, as
though wanting to say: "May God's will be done; all for his honor axl
glory;" or, "Pray, my dear children." At intervals he raised his left arm; but
by evening he could no longer do even that. Throughout the day an
uninterrupted procession of people, Sa1esians and boys, diocesan priests,
benefactors, and lay people, passed through the room. They wanted to kiss
his hand for the last time - that consecrated hand which through
sacramental absolution had saved so many souls, wresting them from the
de mon and restoring them to God. Bishop [Basilio] Leto [of Biella] remained
a long time by his bed, and from time to time he prompted beautiful
ejaculatory prayers. His confessor [Father Giacomelli], Bishop Cagliero llld
Father Rua did the same. Poor Father Rua was sick with grief. At 9 P .M.
all the members of the general council were gathered around the bed. They
were all deeply moved, and no one wanted to leave for the night. They
moved instead to the adjoining room where they watched and prayed the Lord
and Mary Help of Christians for our beloved Father.
203 Vigl ieui, Original Chronicle, Vol. VIII, pp. 40f., "January 30, 1888,"
FDBM 1227 08. Cf. note 1 and related text, above.
204 That he took ill and had to be sent away for a long convalescence i s
confirmed by his s tatement in the Scrapbook-Style Collection 1886- 1896 [FDBM
1230 D5f.]: "January 31, 1888. After Don Bosco's death I was taken to the house of
Dr. Celestino Vignolo Lutati. - February 4. I returned to the Oratory. Mrs. Consuelo
Pascual de Martf-Codolar, her son, and her nephew Joaquin arrived from Barcelona.
They came to take me home to Barcelona with them. I left with them on February 9. I
stayed in Barcelona [some time], for I was very ill. I was then taken to the villa of the
Martf-Codolar family at Horta and stayed there until I got well. Joaquin Marti-Pascual
accompanied me back to Turin."

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At about 1:30 A.M., Don Bosco gave such a start that even the bed
shook. Then his breathing became so labored that we feared the end ha:!
come, and his blessed soul would wing its way to heaven. Father Rua ax!
Bishop Cagliero prayed over him, while the rest of us knelt around the bed
and kept our gaze fixed on our good Father's countenance. I cannot describe
that sorrowful scene and the grief of all present. We were all in tears,
mixing prayers and loud sobs. But the Lord took pity on our dear Father ax!
sent some relief, so that the labored breathing which frightened and grieved
us so became calmer. Seizing the opportunity, the reverend Father Rua
turned to Don Bosco and said: "Reverend Father, we are gathered here, a
good number of your oldest sons, priests and brothers, and we ask for your
blessing. Please bless us, and bless also all your children scattered
throughout the world and in the missions. Since you cannot move your
right arm, I shall raise it for you, and shall pronounce the words of blessing.
Follow them in your mind and bless all our Salesians and our young
people."
A new crisis followed, and no words can describe the grief of all
bystanders. God permitted that saintly body to suffer to the last; but the
crisis passed, and by and by his breathing became calm once again, almost
normal. Again everyone retired to the adjoining room to pray and wait. I re-
mained by Don Bosco's bed. At about 4 A.M. I became aware that his
breathing was no longer s mooth, and beads of perspiration were appearing. I
stepped into the adjoining room and alerted all the superiors. When all were
again kneeling around the bed, the prayers were said and the litanies <rlkd;
after which the bishop read the Proficiscere [Depart, 0 Christian soul]. Then
without our being aware of it, while all of us kept our eyes fixed on that
dear countenance, Don Bosco fell asleep in the Lord. It was 4:45 in the
morning of Tuesday, January 31, 1888. Don Bosco died effortlessly. We
still kept kneeling and looking at him. He seemed asleep. But his soul ha:!
already flown to heaven to receive in God's beautiful paradise the reward
prepared for him for his heroic virtues and labors. One cannot describe the
grief we all experienced in those moments. Still kneeling around the bed, we
kept praying and weeping. We could not take our eyes off that revered
countenance. It seemed that he would wake up at any moment and address to
us some further word of encouragement and advice. Everyone was crushed
with grief. But Father Rua said: "We have lost our loving Father [on earth],
but we have gained a powerful protec tor in heaven. He will intercede before
the throne of God and of Mary Most Holy for all his beloved orphaned
children here on earth. You may rest assured that Don Bosco will always be
alive among us. Let us keep his spirit alive and let us impart it also to our
young people. If this is done, God will cause our Father Don Bosco to live
among us till the end of the world."205
205 Enria, Memoir, pp. 276-282, FDBM 937 Bl 1-CS.

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96
Journal of Saleslan Studies
This is Enria's emotional conclusion. The final 60 lines of his chronicle206 00.
scribe the mourning, the lying in state for three days, the endless stream of peo-
ple paying their respects, and the splendid funeral attended by Church and civic
authorities and a great crowd of people-"to honor the world's greatest benefactor
of the young."
Viglieui's envoy, on the other hand, is a more personal, deeply grieving lament:
Poor child, your chronicle is ended. You loved your good father so much!
Who will comfort you in your bereavement? I know I have done all I could
for my adored father. If there were times when I displeased him, I hope he
will have forgiven me. He loved me so much. I will not dare make com-
parison; but, yes, I was his favorite son.207
Conclusion
Having reached the end of my journey (for the length of which I beg the reader's
kind indulgence) I will be permitted a concluding comment. Clearly Don Bosco
died a saintly death. He died, as he had lived, in union with Christ crucified, call-
ing on Mary's intercession, in prayer of total surrender to God. And this, ~
markable though it is, comes as no surprise to us.
But the perusal of these chronicles and memoirs has been for me a deeply
moving experience in another way: it has revealed new facets of Don Bosco's
radiant spiritual life.
Don Bosco's patient endurance of excruciating pain is one of the most
remarkable features of the story of his last years, and more especially of his last
days. "May God's holy will be done in my regard," was one of Don Bosco's
most oft-repeated prayers. And not only did this great and holy man endure his
pain; he made light of it. He fo und strength within himself to disguise his pain
with wit and light-hearted banter. He witnessed the dissolution of his body with
humor and grace.
Don Bosco's "humanity" is revealed at every step in the record of the
chronicles. Here is a man who has achieved much in his life time and has ~
ceived recognition, even to the point of adulation, from all quarters. Here also is
a man who, in utter truthfulness, comes to terms with his limitations, humbly
ackowledges his helplessness and need, and trustingly gives himself over into the
care of others.
On the other hand, the devoted and unstinted service rendered to Don Bosco
by his spiritual sons appears altogether amazing. Not only did the few who were
his auendants remain constantly at his side, but many others, certainly all of his
206 Enria, Memoir, pp. 182-185. FDBM 937 CS-8.
Wl Viglietti, Original Chronicle, Vol. VIII, p. 41, FDBM 1227 08.

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Don Bosco's Last Illness
97
close associates, spent endless hours at his bedside caring for him with incredible
love. These chronicles are witnesses of a constant outpouring of love !l1d
affection by most devoted children towards a beloved father. And this was no
mere dutiful service. It was the heart's grateful response to a father's true love,
devotion, and concern for his children over a life time.
The chronicles are irrefutable proof that Don Bosco remained an active moral
and spiritual force to the end. He maintained control of the affairs of the
congregation throughout the period of his quasi-retirement. There was no
disillusionment, no despondency, no isolation, no senility in that man, in spite
of physical aging and of crippling ailments. Vigor of spirit, lucidity of mind,
interest in all affairs, desire to work on, remained undiminished to the end.
Evidence of this unflagging activity, interest, and concern are the strenuous
journeys undertaken on behalf of the congregation throughout the period of his
quasi-retirement, the Spiritual Testament, and from his bed of pain the ceaseless
outpouring of spiritual advice, counsel, and moral encouragement for his sons
and daughters. His spirit li ves o n.