The Rector Major is composing this letter on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, a significant precursor to the birth of Christ at Christmas. This day holds special significance for the Salesian Family, as it prompts gratitude for their origins while also inspiring them to embrace future opportunities with courage and enthusiasm. Continue reading “Egidio Viganò – “Letter of the Rector Major” in “Acts of the General Council of the salesian society of St John Bosco””
Contents:
In the article, Fr. Frank looks at the images of God and Community and poses questions that young people in Western Societies are facing on the threshold of the Third Millennium. He moves from the contemporary to the scriptural, and looks at the figure of Jesus and questions of discipleship as posed in the New Testament. What is the significance of discipleship in the Gospels? How does this significance speak to our reality? to our vocation as Christians, and as Salesians? These are the questions of the middle portion of Fr. Moloney’ s reflections.
Continue reading “Francis J. Moloney – “Salesians beyond 2000” in “Journal of Salesian Studies””
The biographical profiles of Louis Comollo (in the 1854 edition), Dominic Savio, Michael Magone and Francis Besucco are among the spiritual and pedagogical documents which are most representative of Don Bosco’s outlook. Continue reading “Giovanni Bosco – “Exemplary biographies” in “Salesian Sources 1. Don Bosco and his work. Collected Works””
The first text (no. 272) included here is an extract from a long conference which Don Bosco gave at the opening of the Patronage de St Pierre in Nice, on 12 March 1877. After summing up the events which led to the founding of the first Salesian House in France, thanks to the involvement of a group of lay people belonging to the St Vincent de Paul Society, supported by Bishop Pietro Sola, the saint said that the work was only set up because of the fruitful cooperation between the Salesians and the Cooperators. Then, pointing out the principal purpose of the Institution (“the good of humanity and the salvation of souls”), he concluded with the reflection that we offer here, focused entirely on practical charity, works of mercy, essential features of true Christian discipleship and on the eternal reward that comes from it (cf. Mt 25:34-35).
Christian education of youth in popular works with a markedly missionary character like the Oratories on the outskirts of Turin, frequented by boys who were mostly abandoned and uneducated, required processes that were gradual and geared to each one’s possibilities. The Companion of Youth offered a complete but essential proposal adapted to everyone. Starting with this, Don Bosco used the sacrament of penance, personal chats, suggestions of optional and practical devotions and offered books to read and meditate on. He set up personalised processes which were more adapted to youngsters who were more capable of greater moral and ascetic effort. Continue reading “Giovanni Bosco – “Sodalities and spiritual friendships” in “Salesian Sources 1. Don Bosco and his work. Collected works””
As we have just said, for the financial resources needed to supply the everincreasing costs of his work, Don Bosco appealed to institutions: the Royal family, Government authorities, public officials (local council, provincial, state …), existing charitable organisations locally, the National Bank, parishes, dioceses, the Holy See itself through his best supporters, including the Pope.
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. Continue reading “Pietro Braido – “Contemporaneità di Don Bosco nella pedagogia di ieri e di oggi” in “Don Bosco educatore oggi””
This is the story of a woman; a woman that commands our attention; a woman of extraordinary character, virtue and holiness; a woman of exquisite personal sensitivity.
In many a document the Church has defined the nature, goal and elements of youth ministry and has included it neatly in the methods of evangelization in its different stages. We can proudly say that the Salesian educative-pastoral plan has been, and continues to be, in line with the Church’s evangelizing mission.
The present article is not concerned with the new constitutions. No comparative study will be attempted, nor any reference will be made to them. This would be carrying coal to Newcastle. I shall instead attempt simply to identify and briefly discuss some of the spiritual insights and principles for religious life and action which Don Bosco embodied in his constitutions.
As in the earlier article, so also in the present one, besides transcribing and translating pertinent archival documents (chiefly letters), I will try to provide an essential historical framework designed to make the sequence intelligible.
This article examines the theological meaning of the term “secularity” in Salesian official documents. It begins with a survey of the meanings of secularity in recent theological dictionaries, then shows how these meanings are present in reflection by the sons of Don Bosco.
The Letture Cattoliche or the Catholic Readings was St. John Bosco’s imaginative brainchild in his effort to bring good, decent and inspiring reading into the home. It appealed to a wide spectrum of persons from young to old, from commoners to high-born.
In the first part of his study on the “Bosco-Gastaldi conflict”, Arthur Lenti drew attention to another figure similarly involved in a painful controversy with the Archbishop of Turin, namely Sr. Marie-Louise-Angelique Clarac, foundress of the Sisters of Charity of St. Mary, also known as the Sisters of Charity of Good Counsel.
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