Arthur Lenti – The Bosco-Gastaldi conflict (1872-82), Part II

Thus the approval of the Salesian Constitutions in April 1874 was followed by a second and more bitterly fought phase of the conflict.

This confrontation falls into two distinct periods: (1) 1874-1877 (the last years of Pius IX’s pontificate) during which, albeit with some ambiguity, Don Bosco seemed to hold the advantage; and (2) 1878-1882 (the first years of Leo XIII) during which Gastaldi gained the advantage and finally prevailed.

Contents:

• Introduction: Establishing a Framework
• Part I. The Bosco-Gastaldi Conflict from the Approval of the Salesian Constitutions to Archbishop Fissore’s Failed Mediation (May 1874 – February 1875)
  • 1. Recalling the Issues in Context
  • 2. Initial Action by the Protagonists: Renewed Recourse To Rome
  • 3. The Planned Spiritual Retreat for School Teachers
  • 4. An Incident Regarding the Giving of the Clerical Habit
  • 5. Don Bosco’s Acceptance of Diocesan Seminarians and New Appeals to Rome
  • 6. Further Episodes and Don Bosco’s Appeals to Rome
  • 7. Archbishop Fissore’s Mediation
• Part II. Developments and Episodes in the Years 1875-77 Leading to the Break
  • 1. Don Bosco’s Petition for More Extended Privileges
  • 2. The Work of Mary Help of Christians (Sons of Mary) and the Salesian Cooperators-and Gastaldi’s Opposition
  • 3. Don Bosco’s Supposed “Suspension”
  • 4. Gastaldi’s Threatened Resignation
  • 5. Don Bosco’s Publication of Graces of Mary Help of Christians
  • 6. Archbishop Federico Aneiros’ Visit
  • 7. Former Diocesan Seminarian Father Angelo Maria Rocca
  • 8. Father Giovanni Perenchio and Father Giuseppe Lazzero
• Part III. The Final Phase Of The Bosco-Gastaldi Connict (1878-1882)
  • 1. The Five Anonymous Anti-Gastaldi Pamphlets
  • 2. The Bonetti-Gastaldi Confrontation: Origin and Early Development to Father Bonetti’s Suspension (1878-1879)
  • 2. Development of the Bonetti-Gastaldi Controversy with Don Bosco’s Involvement (1879-1880)
  • 3. The Bosco-Gastaldi Conflict after the Appearance of the Defamatory Pamphlets to the Conclusion of the Bonetti Affair and the Concordia (1880-1882)
• Concluding Comments on the Final Phase of the Conflict
• General Concluding Comments and Evaluation
• Bibliographical Note
• APPENDIX I: THE TEXT OF THE CONCORDIA DOCUMENT
• APPENDIX II: CAST OF CHARACTERS

Reference time period: 1872 – 1882

Reference institution:
Institute of Salesian Studies