Joseph Boenzi writes of the many times that the figure of St. Francis de Sales enters into the life and ministry of Don Bosco. The final word may never be written on why Don Bosco chose Francis de Sales as the patron of his Congregation but What is Salesian in Don Bosco? throws light on the subject.
Continue reading “Joseph Boenzi – What is salesian in Don Bosco?”
El primer capítulo tiene carácter inspirador. La pastoral viene considerada desde una perspectiva optimista de la realidad juvenil, abierta a todas las expectativas de los jóvenes, aún las ocultas e inconscientes. Solo habitando su mundo se pueden apreciar realmente sus posibilidades. Abandonando una pastoral encerrada en sí misma, abrimos la mirada con esperanza a la óptica del más débil y del que está en mayor riesgo.
Written over several occasions between 1873 and 1875, the manuscript of the Memoirs of the Oratory remained unpublished by Don Bosco’s explicit will. However Fr John Bonetti drew on it abundantly for his History of the Oratory of St Francis de Sales, (which found its way into English under a different title Don Bosco’s Early Apostolate) published as a series in the Salesian Bulletin between 1879 and1886. And Fr John Baptist Lemoyne included it in its entirety in the first volumes of the Biographical Memoirs, adding in other information and anecdotes drawn from other witnesses. The first complete edition of the Memoirs appeared in 1946. The decision to put the book in the public domain in its entirety was motivated by the universal dimension that the Saint has taken on, as Eugene Ceria wrote in the presentation: “Today Don Bosco has become part of history and also been listed among the saints.”
Continue reading “Giovanni Bosco – “Memoirs of the oratory””
Efforts to reform society along Christian lines, undertaken in the Turin diocese after the fall of Napoleon’s Empire, in addition to taking up systematic parish catechesis once more, fostering popular missions, the Forty Hours and retreats for all kinds of groups, focused above all on reform of the clergy, beginning with more careful selection of candidates for the priesthood and diligent care in their preparation. With this in mind diocesan authorities first reorganised the seminary in the capital (1819), strengthening disciplinary and spiritual aspects, and encouraged the initiatives of Fr Luigi Guala, approving the Rule for the Pastoral Institute [Convitto ecclesiastico] (1821), then extended the seminary at Bra (1824-1825), and finally set up a new seminary in Chieri (1829) in the old house which belonged to the Oratorians (St Philip Neri’s priests), putting trusted formators in charge. The model of formation espoused by the archbishop, the Camaldolese Colombano Chiaveroti (1754-1831), drew its inspiration from priestly ideals belonging to post-Tridentine Catholic tradition, with a strong emphasis on apostolic charity and pastoral sacrifice (the priest had to be a “victima charitatis”). Meanwhile groups of generous clergy, supporting his reform efforts, made themselves available for preaching to the people, the ministry of confessions and spiritual direction, along with some orders and congregations that had been set up once more after the suppression in the French era.
Continue reading “Giovanni Bosco – Zeal for the salvation of souls Don Bosco’s models”
The first edition of Il giovane provveduto (in English The Companion of Youth) appeared in 1847 and was Don Bosco’s greatest publishing success. The year he died it had reached its 119th edition. It was reprinted with minor adaptations until 1961. It is also the book which Don Bosco most liked and constantly recommended.
Per contribuire fin dall’inizio alla chiarezza del dialogo, si crede opportuno riassumere le conclusioni a cui si vuole arrivare, nello svolgimento del tema: 1. Don Bosco non è l’unico educatore o pedagogista del suo tempo, nè l’unico « grande » anche solo nel campo cattolico. 2. Don Bosco non è l’unico prete che nel suo tempo si sia interessato di ragazzi, di gioventù povera e abbandonata o no. 3. Tra essi Don Bosco è, indubbiamente, un «Grande»: soprattutto per avere approfondito intuitivamente e praticamente comuni esperienze educative, attuandole in forme ardite e organiche, e con vastità di visuale. Continue reading “Pietro Braido – Contemporaneità di Don Bosco nella pedagogia di ieri e di oggi”
In these pages I would like to reflect on youth ministry with a special focus on family. I hope that, by the end of this reflection no one could say that most of the considerations made were on family ministry rather than on youth ministry. Nevertheless, I think we cannot have a different approach to the subject – youth ministry – when as Church and as Congregation we have had recently at least three magisterial indications in that direction: the letter of the Holy Father on the bicentennial of the birth of St. John Bosco, his apostolic exhortation on love in the family, and the 2017 Strenna of the Rector Major.
The topic of professional formation within the Salesian world is to be read in the light of the early experience of Don Bosco. One will not understand either the vision or the value of Salesian professional training as a whole if one overlooks this fundamental phase which Don Bosco lived and was able to help germinate and blossom.
Continue reading “Fabio Attard – Professional formation of the young in salesian youth ministry”
Congratulations on your hundred years of faithful work with and for Don Bosco, with and for young people and with and for so many good people of this great country, to bring the message of the Lord to the young in their own context.
As early as 1989 Pope John Paul II alerted the Church to the pastoral possibilities that technology presented to those who had concern for young people.
Continue reading “Anthony Bailey – Salesians and the Internet”
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