Francis de Sales’ use of imagery is an acknowledgment that reason alone is insufficient to plumb the mysteries of God’s love and certainly, unable to stimulate us to respond to the passionate love of God.
Stephen Whelan – “The Catholic Readings: writing for the masses” in “Journal of Salesian Studies”
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.
Michael Ribotta – “The «Big Rat» and the «Mad Priest of Turin» – Don Bosco’s relationship with Prime Minister Rattazzi” in “Journal of Salesian Studies”
Perhaps of all the leading political personages of the Italian Risorgimento with whom Don Bosco enjoyed some measure of friendship, Urbano Rattazzi’s name, like Abou Ben Adam’s, led the rest.
Arthur Lenti – “The founding and early expansion of the salesian work in the San Francisco area from Archival Documents” in “Journal of Salesian Studies”
Recently the Central Salesian Archives released the files of the Rua rectorate on some 1,750 microfiches. This boon has made archival research in that rectorate possible even for students residing away from the Central Archives.
Philip J. Pascucci – “Out of our past an american venture into seminary training” in “Journal of Salesian Studies”
That is part of the well known talk which Don Bosco gave to his boys when they were forced to move from place to place for their Sunday gatherings. That became known as the wandering oratory. This is the story of another transplanting, another wandering.
Arthur Lenti – “Key-concepts, concerns and fears of a Founder-Don Bosco in his declining years Part II” in “Journal of Salesian Studies”
In an article which appeared in an earlier issue of this Journal, I described some of Don Bosco’s concerns, as he expressed them in meetings of his council and in sessions of General Chapters held during the last decade of his life.
Joseph Boenzi – “St. Francis de Sales, bibliography of publications in English” in “Journal of Salesian Studies”
Over the last number of years “Salesian Spirituality,” first articulated by Francis de Sales and Jane Frances de Chantal, has attracted renewed interest in English-speaking countries. Theirs has been called a “spirituality of the heart,” and their prayer style has been dubbed intuitive, simple, spacious but unified and holistic.
Joseph Boenzi – “Reflections on virtue. St. John Bosco’s heroic faith reported by eyewitnesses in his beatification process” in “Journal of Salesian Studies”
This study does not go into the long process that led to Don Bosco’s beatification, which took place on June 2, 1929. The topic concerns one small aspect: the sworn testimony of eyewitnesses concerning his life of “faith.”
Michael Ribotta – “«School days… golden rule days»… John Bosco’s public school years” in “Journal of Salesian Studies”
The road traveled by John Bosco, as child and teenager, in his quest for an education, proved to be a bumpy one, marked by frequent twists and turns and occasionally stalled by unforeseen roadblocks. But despite occasional disheartening setbacks, John’s high hopes in his pursuit of an education would prevail over disconcerting frustrations.
Arthur Lenti – “Key-concepts, concerns and fears of a founder – Don Bosco in his declining years” in “Journal of Salesian Studies”
My article on Don Bosco’s last years, which saw the light of day in this Journal, was based on chronicles and memoirs held in the Central Salesian Archive. Besides these chronicles and memoirs, there are other important documents to be found in the archive relating to Don Bosco’s last years.
Michael Ribotta – “Tough love is not the answer – Don Bosco’s views on punishment” in “Journal of Salesian Studies”
In our essay we shall examine the meaning and application of “punishment” and “discipline” as found in Don Bosco’s educational writings. It was a subject to which he returned time and time again-and for good reason.
Arthur Lenti – “Don Bosco’s love affair with «poor and abandoned» young people and the beginnings of the oratory” in “Journal of Salesian Studies”
The present study aims, not at any new interpretation, but simply at describing some aspects of the actual circumstances of the origins on the basis of fresh documentation now available. In particular, restricting the field of inquiry, I will focus on the young people who were protagonists in Don Bosco’s work at its origin.
Joseph Boenzi – “Paolo Albera’s visits during Don Bosco’s last illness” in “Journal of Salesian Studies”
But if Marseilles was so close, why did “Paolino” Albera not come to Turin during those final days of January 1888? Why was he not at Don Bosco’s bedside? How did the death of his spiritual father and mentor impact on him?
Arthur Lenti – “Don Bosco’s last years, his last illness and saintly death from eyewitness accounts” in “Journal of Salesian Studies”
The present essay has a rather modest aim. Steering clear of the complexities of a biographical reconstruction, it will simply describe Don Rosco’s last years, including his last illness and death, with focus on the person, and with emphasis on words and attitudes.
Michael Ribotta – “The Roman Letter of 1884 and its aftermath” in “Journal of Salesian Studies”
In retrospect, one can appreciate why Don Bosco had become so distraught by the message that was played out in his dream (reverie?) during his Roman sojourn of 1884. His old friends, Joseph Buzzelli and Ferdinando Valfre, had demonstrated all too realistically what he could expect when the educational principles of his Sistema Preventivo and the “love environment” he strove so hard to cultivate for 40 years at the Oratory had been allowed to dissipate.