Don Bosco In The West

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Don Bosco In The West
VOL. 1
JANUARY-FEBRUARY, 1935
' .
SAINT JOHN BOSCO
"Give me souls, away with the rest!"
No.1
SALESIAN HOUSE OF STUDIES
Richmond, California
AIMBoys called by God are trained here to become Salesian
Educators, both priests and lay brothers, according to the
ideals, system, and spirit of Saint John Bosco.
LOCATION
The Salesian House of Studies is located in a very healthy
locality between Richmond and San Pablo. The thirty-three
acre property, constantly improved and beautified, is an
ideal spot for boys eager to build up their religious and
intellectual personality.
·
ADMISSION
Preference is given graduates from Grammar School. Late
vocatibns will be gladly considered in accordance with Don
Bosco ~~ examples.
STUDIES
The program of st1,1dies follows the standard high school
curricula of the state with special prominence being given
those 'subj.ects demanded for his state in life.
~·
For further information, write or call upon
The Reverend Director
SALESIAN HOUSE OF STUDIES
R. F. D. 431 A
Richmond, California
e
DON BOSCO IN THE WEST
VOL. 1
JANUARY-FEBRUARY, 1935
No.1
FOREWORD
(By Rev. P. J. Diamond, S. C.)
T
HIS is a new venture, but one that carries with it a special purpose.
our object is to acquaint our Salesian friends once in a while of certain
activities that are held in our home surroundings, and which may appeal
to the interest of those who know us and approve of what we are doing in behalf of youth of both sexes in our several centres of Catholic attractions, in keeping with the spirit of our holy founder, St. John Bosco.
It is true we have our Salesian Buletin which gives an account of
what Salesians are doing in every part of the world, and we hope in
due time to furnish our patrons with a copy of this montly publication,
so as to inform them of the world-wide scope of the Salesian work.
But narrowing down to a limitetd sphere of action we wish to present
to our friends a det a iled account of what is being done in our immediate neighborhoods by trained Salesian leaders in San Francisco and
Oakland.
Firts of all we want to visualize a great centre of ·S alesian activities
in the Italian parish of SS. Peter and Paul, where for the past thirty-five
years Salesians have had clubs thoroughly equipped for the sole purpose
of bringing together and entertaininng with appropriate attractions the
youth of the North Beach section of our city. This glorious work has
been fostered with a view to higher aim, that of religious - cultu.re and
fomenting of character, to enable young men to see the real purpose of
life, and, so fit them to become useful and honorable citizens to that
walk of life to which their inclinations might call them. Many of our
men today, on looking back on the past, can testify to the usefulness
of Salesian a ssociations and environment.
The work of the Salesian Fathers in the North Beach section heralded
the present day interest in San Francisco in the cause of youth, and
t'1ndoubtedly
gave birth to the C. Y. 0. and other kindred organizations.
In Oakland our Father:;; have been very persevering in their work
among boys and the ir efforts have been rewarded with splendid results.
While others failed to maintain interest in the so-called "Boy Scout movement", this being a field to display Salesian activity, our Fathers imbued
with the spirit of our holy founder, failed not to embrace an apparent
opportunity, and by dint of sacrifice and unremitting zeal, preserved the
organization which today is known as the "Don Bosco Catholic Scouters".
In East Oakland the Salesians have been progressive in the work
so dear to ever y members of our Order. There can be seen a full program
I
2
DON BOSCO IN THE WEST
of everything that appeals to the heart and mind of youth. Clubs, outdoor
games and amusements, and other attractions too numerous to mention
.,.....all these mark the intelligent mind of the Pastor and those associated
with him in carrying out the design of our founder.
In the parish of Corpus Christi, ample provisions have been made for
the you,th of both sexes to seek under Catholic auspices properly selected
amusements, all of which have for their special object to lead in the
path of righteousness, so that our young people may be guided in the
true path of life having an educated conscience of what can be done
and what must be avoided, to take out of life the pleasures that God
wants to be theirs.
Another field of action for Salesian ambition is to be found in the
South. At St. Patrick's, Los Angeles, our Fathers, while attending to
the general work in connection with a parish, fail not to extend their
· care with Salesian diligence to the spiritual welfare of youth of several
~ nationalities, and for that purpose have the usual attractions that the
spirit of St. John Bosco divised to bring together young people, so that
the opportunities which such attractions render might be instrumental
· in leading them to listen to instructions congenial to a correct manner of
living.
In order to nourish vocations for the great work of our Order we
have our Salesian Sem:n:L·y at Richm) nd. Here with great care the
'young men sent t o us by God get a careful training in the spirit an rl
customs of Salesian life, and thus will be fully equipped when their
. courses are completed, to take their places in that centre of Salesian
'work where obedience will send thm.
~ Fin2lly .at Watsonville we have a Sschool for boys. This is a Boarding SchooL similar to the many we have in every part of the world.
: The~e Colleges of the Salesian Fathers have acquired a world-wide re:putation as centres ol education where boys confided to our care, receive
every possible attention, to prepare them f or that avenue of life to
.which their vocation will call them, and therein display that magnanimity
·of . soul for whi~h a · c,arefully selected curriculum of studies had prepared
them.
This is a general and imperfect survey of our several field of action.
'We intend in other issues to particularize with name and events.
DON BOSCO IN THE WES'f
3
SAINT JOHN BOSCO
D
ON BOSCO is no longer plain Don Bosco although childlike and loving
affection for him may long retain this name as a household word.
The Church has lifted him up in the light and gl ory of Easter and
proclaimed him a Saint. Easter of 1934 will be the most memorable
date in Salesian history. On tha t
day
Don
Bosco became the
world's Easter Saint.
In this article we present
briefly the salient features of
his life and work as well as·
some striking and valuable comments in connection with his acheivements. For the sake of
due prominence, separate space
is given t o some remarks by
the Holy Father. It is our hop~
that now more than · ever his
f riends will r ead his beautifuJ,
attractive, and inspiring life and
have others become acquainted
with it also. American read ers
will find "The Blessed Friend
of Youth," by Neil Boyton, S.J.,
a most interesting masterpiece
of livel y biography. The Honorable Alfred Smith, form er Gwernor of New York Stat3, ha ~
written a foreword for it. It
is no exaggeration to say that th ere is no other saint's life in English
written so breezly and entertainingly as this one. No wonder it is a lready
in its third edition. Al.though the author meant t o write for boys, young
and old alike are f indin g it enjoyable and fr uitfu ll y inspiring in every
one of its two hundred a nd more pages. A more comprehensive bjography
is the one by the Rev. Augustine Au.ffray, S.C., publi shed in Engla n ::l
a nd obtanable also in the United States.
Saint John Bosco was born of poor parents on August 16, 1815 , in a
s mall hamlet m~ar Turin, lbl y. Singled out by our Bless-3d · Lady t o become
the modern apostle of youth, he spent fifty years of his life mostl y on ·
behalf of poor children. When he died on January 31 , 1888, his work was .
spread f a r and wide in many countries of the world. The Hol y F ath8r
has described him as "a man as great as the world."
To reach the priesthood, he had to overcome many obstacles, chief of .
which was lack of means. When h e finally became a priest a t twent y-six
years of a g-e, he took a s his motto and program the salvation of so ul s.
He made himo;elf a fa ther to numberless neglected boys and en abled them
to . ob ;a :n civi l and r eligious instru ction, and employment at some trade.
4
noN BOSCO IN THE WEST
An ardent supporter of popular instruction he was one of the first to
open an evening school.
The success he had in his work with boys was due to his preventive
system by which he strove to keep them in the material impossibility
of committing sin. Knidness and frequent Confession and Communion
form the basis of this system.
Saint John Bosco fou.nded the Salesian Society (named after Saint
Francis of Sales)' now made up of over eleven thousand members, and
the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (over nine thousand). These
Priest, Brothers, and Sisters, are now spread all over the world. All of
them are out to continue the work he started, according to the means
and methods he used, and fired by the same spirit of charity which burned
in his breast. In 1875 he sent out his first missiona ries to pagan lands.
There· are now about 1,600 Priest, Brothers, and Sisters working in
mission fields. Over half a million men and women, known as Salesian
Co-operators, lend moral and material support to the Salesian Fathers
and Sisters in their undertakings for the salvation of souls.
Saint John Bosco was also famous as a preacher, writer, confessor
sociologist , prophet, wonder-worker, and an apostle ·of devotion to Mary
Help of Christ :ans, and to the Most Blessed Sacrament by frequent Communion. To him God gave the power of healing all kinds of ills and
diseases, of multiplying the consacrated Hosts in the ciborium, and food
Ior his orpham, of bilocat ion, and even of r aising the dead to life.
Because of hi s heroic achievements the Huly Father, who as a young
priest had occasion to know him personally and intimately, has raised
him to the honors of the altar, choosing for the day of canonization the
solemnity of East er and the close of the Holy Year of Jubilee in commemoration of the ninteenth century of our Redemption.
Being a moder n Saint, one who has actually lived in our times and
successfully overcome the difficulties of our own day and age, Saint John
Bcsco c<m well inspire l!S as how best t o tackle our present day problems.
The Most Rev. Edward J. Hanna, D.D., Archbishop of San Francisco,
emphasizes our n ~ ed for the spirit which actuated Saint John Bosco
ami made h im con quer, when he says:
"His life and his work mark a great epoch in the life of the Church
of which he was so great an ornament. But mighty as was his personal
contributil n to the cause of the education of the young, mighty as has
been t he t a sk accompl'shed by his sons since death, I feel that today
we need his spirit, and his inspiration even more than in the clays of
his early labors. Not only was Saint John Bosco an ideal teacher, but
his plan of -~ducation, his way c·;: combin:ng work and play, his manner
of impressing the great fundamental truths that guide our lives, his
sweet, wholesome piety, his great love for the youJ1g will be more efective today than in any time passed."
The more Saint John Bosco is studied the more shall we be thrilled
\.'ith t he splenJicl example of sanctity that H?IY Mother Church pr_; poses
to us for om: admiration and our imitation when she places upon his
ln-o w Lhe crown of glory and declares him a saint. Says John Joergensen,
Hv .e:d a t.th ol·, " Don Bosco is one of the most complete men that the world
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DON BOSCO IN THE WEST
5
has ever known. The majority of people, whom the Church has judged
worthy of the aureola of the Saints, have aU had something of the frail
human natu:re about them-sometimes, as in the case of Saint Augustine,
they have been too human . . . In the life of Don Bosco there is
nothing (or almost nothing) of all this. In him there are no shadows ;
all is light . . . 'The just,' says the Gospel, 'shall shine like the Sun.'
"Don Bosco according to a modeni. expression is a hundred per cent
altruist. He was born such. To cover this heroic altruism he had to undergo
struggles which are nothing when compared with what the biographies
of other saints narrate . . . "
GLORIFICATION
H EN Sain John Bosco was canonized on Easter Sunday the beauty
and enthu,siasm connected with the solemn ceremonies exceeded
every expectation. This was Saint John Bosco's earthly glorification.
Twenty-three Cardinals, eighty Bishops, ten Abbots, a very large representation of the Roman Chapters and clergy, and a tremendous outpouring of the laity were present at the Mass celebrated by the Holy
Father.
·
A solemn triduum was then observed in Rome, and at its completion
a nother was observed in Turin, the cradle of Saint John Bosco's work,
which was also attended by an imposing number of Cardinals, Bishops,
clergy, and people. Each one of these triduums was preached by three
different Cardinals. Following the triduum at Turin, a solemn commemoration was held in that city wfth a magnificent procession in which
was carried the hol y body of Saint John Bosco and which lasted six
hours. A s many as one hundred and thirty Cardinals, Archbishons and
Bishops marched in the procession.
California Program
The Commemorative Celebration in honor of the Canonization of
St. J ohn Bosco in the Western Province has been taking place from Sunday
January 27 to Sunday Feb. 3rd.
The Celehration begun on Sunday January 27 with a Solemn triduum
in English preached by the celebrated orator Rev. Thomas Burke, C.S .P.
This was followed by a Triduum in Italian by Rev. Rinaldo Bergamo, S.C.
Director of the Saint Francis School, in Watsonville.
WEDNESDAY, January 30th, was dedicated to · the children. On that
day children from the various Salesian Houses showed th eir homage to
the g reat friend of youth .. At 10:30 o'clock a Solemn Migh Mass was sung
by a boy's Choir. The sermon on that occasion was delivered by Rev.
Thomas Burke, C.S.P.
SUNDAY, ·Feb. 3rd, a Pontifical High Mass by His Excellency Archbi shop-Coadjutor Mitty with a sermon by His Excellency Archbishop
Hanna .
In the ev ening Vespers with a Serm on by Rev. Joseph R Simeoni, S.C.
Te Deum, in thanksgiving , and Solemn Benediction with the Most Blessed
Sacrament .
W
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6
DON BOSCO IN THE WEST
SAINT JOHN BOSCO'S MOTHER
0
F ALL God's gifts to man, none is more precious, than a good mother.
The mother of Saint John Bosco was. such a gift. Perfectly understanding her tremendous responsability in the training of her children, she
was faithful in exercising over John a most salutary influence, thus
forming an apostle with a heart
inflamed with the desire for the
highest virtues.
As soon as John was born,
Marga~et offered him to God,
promising that she would strive
to make him worthy of the love
of the Most High. As an infant,
she guided his steps encouraged
him in doing good, fostered his
good inclinations, repressed any
leaning toward careless conduct
and made him a good Catholic
boy. She helped him in his
vocation to the priesthood;
encouraged him by h er holy
exar.1ple; followed him to his
field of labor in Turin; took
part in his joys and sorrows,
in . his worries and hopes, and,
when the work of her son was
safely
established,
breathed
forth her soul to God (November 25, 1866) with the consolation of being able to · say, "My conscience
is tranquil. I have done my duty in everything that I could."
In training her children, Margar.et Occhiena Bosco, for this was her
name, frequently reapeted the words, "God sees you,'' ; remember that God
never loses sight of you at any time"; "idleness is the father of all vices."
When John \vas about to choose his vocation, she said: "I want. you
t o think most carefully over the step you are about to make, and then
to foll ow yo ur vocation whatever it may be. In this matter I will not
interfere, for God is to be placed first and foremost. Do not worry in
the slightest about me; I want nothing from you. Remember well that I
was born poor, and I desire to die poor. Moreover, if you should decide
to be a secular priest and to your misfortune you become rich, · I would
not come to pay you a visit". Such noble words had their precious fruit
though Saint John Bosco administered fortunes during his life, he lived
as one of the poorest of the poor, even saying: "When I die, I wish to
have nothing to leave behind except the cassock I wear."
On the evening of his first Mass, his mother spoke to him as follows:
"My son, you are n ow a priest. You say Mass. From now henceforth
you are very n ear to J esus Christ. Remember, however, that to begin
DON BOSCO IN THE WEST
7
to say Mass means to begin to suffer. You will not notice this imme. diately, but little by little, you will see that your mother told you the
. truth. 1 am sure that every day you will pray for me, whether I am
alive or dead. For me that is quite enough. From this time forward think
solely of the salvation of souls." Shortly before her death she said: "What
I am obout to tell you, John, I say with that same sincerity that I would
in Confession, in order that you may know the state of the Oratory.
Have great confidence in those who will work with you in the. vineyard
of the Lord, but only in those things tha you are sure for the glory
of God. Do not seek either elegance or splendor in you.r works. Seek the
glory of God, but have poverty as your basis."
And when she was about to leave the world for her eternal reward,
cshe made a solemn climax of all her Christian teachings in the words,
,"Seek the glory of God, but as a foundation have poverty of facts and not
only of words."
SOCIETY OF ST. FRANCIS OF SALES
J
UST as the Church can adapt herself in things accidental and indifferent to the n eeds and exigencies of the times, so also the Rules
of the Orders that serve h er a :.·e endowed with a certain common-sense
elasticity which, though obliging them to labor even for the same end, and
in the 'l_ame spirit, . enables them to assume that air of perennial up-toelatedness indispensable for an institution that hop·e s to make itself acceptable to an everchanging world. Therefore, if in certain countries and
·at certain times, a silk hat and kid gloves are more useful for the attaining of our good purpose th:m the sandals of the Friar, by all means
let us h ave the kid gloves: a profound poverty of spirit is n ot incompatible with either if only the wearer have the heart of an apostle of
•Christ.
....
Among modern religious in stitutions, the Salesian Congregation (or
Society of Saint Francis of Sales) may be singled out as a true refl ection of the Che,:·ch's procedure, and indeed a s a sort of compendium
of her history throughout the ages. For · by rule, Saint John Boscd''s
'relig;ous family embraces "evry work of charity," -from the teaching
of catechism to the t"iny tots whom Providence leads · within the Saving
dvors of the Sunday Ol·atory, to the nursing of the leper in far-off Colombia or in the heart of Africa. Like the old-time Orders given up to
L·1an:1al labor, the Salesians . of Saint John Bosco/ in their hundreds ~f
farms and agricutu.ral colonies spread through the world, are teaching
the son s of the people ho~ to get the most out of their native soil, and
in their schools of arts and trades they encourage them to become· useful
and industrious citizens.
DON BOSCO IN THE WES.T
Being so up-to-date and modern, . then, just what progress has the
Salesian Congregation made since it was founded? Let us go back to
May 14, 1862, when the first group of Salesians made their public vows
in the hands of Saint John Bosco. On that occasion Don Bosco addressed.
the newly-professed Salesians as follows: ·
"My children, we are living in very disturbed times, and it looks like
to be founding a new religious Congregation at the very hour
when the world and hell are doing their worst to destroy those now in
existence. But fear not. I am not relying upon probabilities, but upon
certainties: God is blessing our endeavor and His will is that it shall
go on. What has not been done. to thwart our designs?- What has it
all amounted to? Nothing at all. That is indeed one reason for trusting
in the future. But I have others, and yet sounder ones. The principal
one is that we are seeking for nothing but tlie glory of God and the
salvation of souls. Who knows but that Heaven wills to make this humble
Congregation achieve great things in the Church of God? Who knows
but that in twenty-five or thirty year's time, our little nucleus, with
the Lord's blessing, will go out into the whole world a thousand strong?
~adness
The prophecy has been more than fulfilled. From year to year, new
recruits have flowed in slowly but surely to increase the youthful. army.
In January, 1863, the Salesians ·numbered 39; in · January,. 1864, 61; in
1865, 80; in January, 1866, 90; in 1874, when the Decree of final approbation appeared, 320, in 1888, at Don Bosco's death, 768; in 1910, at
the death of Father Rua, his successor, 3,996; and at the time these lines
are being written about 11,000. These figures (as well as those that
follow) do not include the Sisters.
What kind of work does the Society of Saint Francis of Sales engage
itself in? We have already said that it embrace~> "every work of charity."
The principal branches are: . 392 Festive Oratories, which have ,f or their
scope the attracting and instructing of boys who are in danger of losing
their faith \)ecause of no one to care for them or no place of recreation
where to go; 35 Orphanages; 472 Schools and Colleges; 125 Professional
Schools with 700 workshops and iO,OOO artisans; 42 AgricuJtural Colonies
with 3,2()0 pupils; 108 Seminaries for the training of young men who
desire. to become Salesian Priests or lay-Brothers;. 10 Foreign Mission
Seminaries with 1,500 young men preparing for a missionary apostolate;
Missions with 19 principal territories and 30 secondary stations; 410
Public Churches, of which 208 are parish churches (to these must be
added the hundreds of semi-public and private chapels for the use of the
pupils).
Saint John -Bosco called the members of the Society he founded SaThis word comes from Sales. He wanted his Salesians to be permeated with the spirit of gentleness, patience, and charity of Saint
Franci'll of Sales.
~esians.
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DON BOSCO IN · THE WEST
9
WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER
M
ANY have been the occasions when the Holy Father has spoken
.
a?uot Saint John Bosco, from whom he drew inspiration as a young
pnest, m the words · altogether complete, pregnant with meaning affectionate, eleoquent, authoritative. At this time we present just a 'few , of
his fathedy devoted words,
. gleaned from recent utterances.
"Don Bosco is one of those
great meteors that sweep from
time to time across the vault
of heaven and leave a long
trail, sheding seeds · of life, of
goodness and of peace . . . . He
is on~ of those great souls
raised up by God to heal the
wounds of sud'fering humanity
and to budld up the ruins of
waste .
"He is a magnificent creation of God, a gigantic figure
upon whom Divine Providence
. has .lavished . His choicest .gifts.
In our opinion he was one · of
those men who leave the mark
of genius wherever they are.
He was splendidly equipped for
success:
b o d i 11y
strength,
warmth of heart, and vigor of
mind were his to a remarkable
degre . . . Verily he possessed
a heart of gold, a heart truly paternal, a heart maternally .·terider,
especially for the little ones, and for the poorest among the poor. . . .
"With his heart he possessed a will, gigantic, indomitable, which, indeed,
was never conquered by such extraodinary labors and su~h immen's ity
of works. And at the service of this intelligence was a body tempered
for the work by natural cheerful temperament, and by ' the · hard ·experiences . of poverty, but still !nor~ by a resolute will and self-discipline,
by true, proper and voluntary penance, which helped to give · him · a capacity for work which was trully amazing: indeed I do not ' hesitate · to
say miraculous . . ·.
We have had the great honor of having been intimately associated
with Don Bo~co and of having been one of his old personal friends. We
have seen him,' your own glorious father. We have seen him with .Oil,r
own eys. We have been near to him, heart to heart with him. There
has existed between ' Us not merely a brief, vague and ·ordinary exchange
of ideas ...
DON ·BOSCO IN THE ·wEST
"There are men whose names live for centuries, aye, fpr ever, not in
the hearts of nations. Don Bosco belongs to this category of men . . .
"He is a figure that the Divine Providence of God conceded to Us
to know. This favor of God has ever been dear to Us, but never so dear
as in these last days, when the memory of Our meeting with Don Bosco
comes back to Us along the years doubling and redoubling Our pleasure
in having been thus favored to behold so intimately and for such a
protracted period a figure of such greatness . . .
"The power of his intellect was such as to be out of the common. The
genius which he possessed wa tru,ly such, not anything masquerading
under the name of genius, and was ample to assure his having succeeded
as one of those few men,who are honored by the little of learned or
thinkers. This genius was Don Bosco's . and it is a thing that is little
known and less insisted on. One can truly say of him that God gave him
a heart as ·great as is the sand on the seashore. And his work, at only
forty years' distance from his death, has spread over the whole face of
the globe ·and is truly as the sand on the seashore ...
"We personally noticed one of his most splendid qualities: he was
calmly present to all things, though overburndened with labors and
troubles in a life of tremendous occupations which seemed oppressive to
every spectator. And we could see that his spirit was always in another ·
place, where calm dominates undisturbed; in fact, one of his as ~onishing
f eatures was " ' i W .;t se~· c0ne self-contr<J, a sovereign mastery of all
his actions, derived :from an inexhaustible patience and tender charity .
riis life oi every moment was a continuous immolation in work' of
(harity and a never interrupted recollection in prayer ...
"The whole world will continue to call him plainly D.on Bosco, and
that is but right, for in this way We repeat his name as a war cry,
the cry of those holy wars Divine Providence grants mankind from
time to tiine . . .
"He had a most profound and boundless devotion to the Vicar of
Christ, and for Him he worked carrying out a really wonderful program,
as We we~e able to see personally during a true intimacy ·of several
years' duration, which besides being of friendly affection was an intimacy of intellect and ideas ...
"And how Don Bosco's life was spent for the· Vicar of Christ, We
know fully well from direct knowledge, from the sincere testimony of his
ardent words, from the expression of every luminous thou.ght which
he confided to us in his friendship so loving and fatherly even in so
great a difference of age . . .
"Divine Providence has so disposed of events in such a way that
Don Bosco himself had to manifest his sentiments and prospects to
him Who in her secret designs was destined to exalt to the su.preme
honors of the altar this gigantic figure, this colossus of sanctity ...
···we are therefore enthusiastic admirers of his . work, and We regard
it as a great privilege to have been able to further it hy our humble
co-u1;cration . . .
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DON BOSCO IN THE WEST
11
MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS
S
AIN JOHN BOSCO was born within the octave of the Feast of the
Feast of the Assuption. After his birth his mother did not delay
to dedicate him to the · Blessed Virgin Mary. Through his whole life
Mary was his guide. hen he needed a protectress for his work in behalf
of poor boys his heart naturally turned to Mary the
Mother of God. Having
experienced her powerfu,l
help in a11 circumstances
he loved to call her the
Help of Christians. At no
time of his life did he
doubt of the aid of Mary
Help of Christians to his
work. This was only natural, for the certainty he
felt was confirmed by numerous visions and indisputable signs that were
maternal solicitude for his
success.
When Sain John Bosco
struggled along with the
work of his Oratory for
poor and neglected boys,
his soul was wrapt in
ecstasy by the vision and
the encouraging words of
the Mother of God. Then,
too,. as when he was nine
years of age, he seemed to
find himself in the midst
of a crowd of ferocious
beasts. He tried to escape,
but his flight was arrested
by the Lady of majestic
appearance. She obliged him to remain and showed him a beautiful church,
on which was written "His domus mea: inde gloria mea" (Here is my
house whence shall go forth my glory).
From the time Saint John Bosco started to build the Basilica of Mary
Help of Christians in Turin, in 1865, he became the apostle of this devotion. He wrote books abou,t Our Lady, spread the practice of her
novena, gave away holy pis:tures and medals of the Help of Christians
by the thousands and kept a list of favors granted through her inter- .
cession. Those who had a late vocation to the priesthood he was wont
gratefully to call sons of Mary Help of Christians, and the Salesian con-
12
DON BOSCO IN THE WEST
gragtion of women he named Daughters of Mary Help of Christian!!.
After Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, Saint John Bosco's most tender
love centered upon Our Lady, and he attributed all his success and tlte
progress of his Society to the Blessed Vir&"in.
It was in Mary he always confided in promoting ecclesiastical vocations. He often repeated: "When means are wanting to educate poor
and abandoned youth, the Blessed Virgin herself undertakes their protection and obtains for their benefactors many extraordinary .rracu
both spirituat and temporal."
And benefactors were never wanting. The .n umber of young lllen whom
he helped to reach the goal of the priesthood ran into the thousands.
These were educated not only for the Society of St. Francis of Sales,
but also for many a depleted diocese.
One cannot read the biography of this- remarcable priest and educator
without catching something of his all-pervading love for and and confidence in God's dear Mother. "How many hymns I remember having
su,ng with him!" writes one of his proteges, who later became a Bishop.
"So great was the enthusiasm inspired by him for Our Lady, that one
Sunday evening while crossing one of the publ.ic squares on his way
back to the Oratory of the Angel Guardian in Turin, followed by . a
large number of boys, I being one of the number, he intoned the hymn,
'Mille volte benedetta, 0 dolcissima Maria,' A thousand times blest, 0 .
Sweetest Mary; and we all joined in ~ingin2· in a loud voice."
The feast of Mary Help Christianl? is observed on May 24t11:
Salesians love to commemorate this feast on the .2 4th of every month.
It was Pope Pius VII, in 1815, the year of Saint John Bosco's birth,
who instituted this feast. That year, the exile of the Pope, subsequent ·
upon the troubles caused by the French revolution, came to an end. ·
It is therefore, a feast of thanksgiving for the entire church, besides
· a feast full of loving memories for the Salesians and all of Saint John
Bosco's - friends.
. : , f· ·.
'--ya decree
l
IN THE UNITED STATES
of Pope Leo XIII in May, 1903, the statue, of Mary Help ·.
1
. ·., ~£'.:. -.chrstians,
Patroness of the Salesian~, was solemnly crowned
in th~ , gr:~at Basilica erected. by 'Saint John Bosco in Turin. At that time ·
the ,.'s~fe~ians had but four . centers of activity in the United State~.
Sin~e . the c~owning of the statue of their Patroness, the Salesians, through
her · ~s~istance, have exte.nded their work in the United . States with
stea,dy and consoling development.
When the Salesians first came to America they were given the
task .of assisting the immigrants. This explains their parish churches
in ,:New . York, New Jersey, California, and school for polish . ~oys a~.
Ramsey, New Jersey. In that spirit of charity bequeated tj1em by therr
Founder Saint John Bosco, they have done what they could in accordance
with their means to .help thousands of Italians, Poles, Spaniards;' 'Portu~ .·
guese, and Irish, .to preserve the faith which . they brought wilh them
B
,I
·'J
DON BOSCO IN THE WEST
13
from the lands of origin. The main work of the Salesians is the
ed11cation of the youth of the poor and middle classes, but because
of the need of immigrants to America for priests who could administer
to them in their own language, they gladly took charge of · parishes
at -the request of zealous American Bishops. IIi this undertaking they still
have been the educators · of the flock, leading the people to the feet 'of
Christ, encouraging devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and to
tht; Most Holy Mother of God under the title of Help of Christians.
They have thus striven, after the example of the august Patron of their
Society, Saint Francis of Sales, "to become all things to all men, to
win all to Christ."
But right along they have not f or g otten their main branch of apostolic work, and so they have gradually undertaken it in schools and
orphanages for American born children , which are now established in
New Rochelle and Goshen, N. Y.; Watsonville, Calif.; Tampa, Fla.;
Hope Haven, La., and North Haledon, N. J. They· have also a goodly
number of parochial schools, most of which are taught by the Salesian Sisters.
An immense field among the children of the poor and middle classes undoubtedl y awaits them, and they will not fail to fill their obligations in
in the same proportion in which they are blessed with numerous vocations.
American young men and women, who will a ssimilate Saint John Bosco's
ideals, program, and method of education .
.The United Sta tes is a country where great facts are quickly grasped,
especially when they originate with some extraodinary benefactor
of mankind. Therefore, there can be no doubt about the further and
ampler ext ension of the main Salesian activities here.
Saint John Bosco and hi s system of education: "He clearly saw the needs
of modern youth and proposed and p ractic ed a system of education well ·
s uiited to their age and na ture . .. As a promoter of .physical t r aining,
sp'orts, scouting and of general youthful cheerf ulness, he could well be
styled the saintly patron of these maaifestations of n atural liife so d~ar
to o1;1r Ameriican youth. But he did not neglect the r ealm of the spiri~
and grafted, freely and without any pressure, a sweet and charming .
s upernat ural lif e upon .the child 's soul. Don Bosco's system has . a.
future brig ht with promise, in our own country.."
.
..
,,
The most notable step forward, which will assure a future, .• brj~?-t.,;
with promise, in this country, was made wh en a Semirary was . ope,n~cr.
at Richmond, California, Calif. , and shortly <tfter an ot)'ler erecfe<:f a/
Newton, N. J., which was blessed .in 1931 by the repl:.~sentat_ive of .
the. Hol y F a ther in the Uriited States, the most Rev. Piet r.o Fumasonl-'
Biondi, now .. Cardin al.
·
On that occasion, Msgr. Charles ~h ay, Rector of St. Pat'rick'c Cathedral
in .Rochester,- N. Y., wj1 0 was one of the ma ny priest s presen _for ~ t he •.
cer emony, penned .a beautiful . artic:)e . on the Semhia~;y at Newton,
which he entitled . "The. American H,omag:e t o Blessed, John. Bos<:_o;': We
.love to cull 'from it the f ollowing lipes : " \]Vhat .a . grancl work, a seminary!
What nobler motive couid actu,at e. a ny . ·man, or ··body . of m en ·than the
~nctificatio n of youth fen t~ t}1e . sanctuary . of t.h e ~]iving Go<l ? What
14
DON BOSCO IN THE WEST
more hallowed cradle could have been chosen for the spread of Salesianism in these United States of American than the verdant topped hills
of New Jersey, overlooking th~ peaceful valley of Newton with its
surrounding hills! Surely God was prodigal in His inspiration when He
placed the suggestion in the mind of the humble Salesian Provincial,
Father Richard Pittini, and guided him to fruition of what will in the
magnificent Seminary located on a hundred and eighty-seven acres of
sunkissed earth. In fact, they talk about the little spot which fell from
out the sky one day, the Emerald Isle. Indeed this is but a division of
tbat same spot, one part of which nestled by the sea in the east and
the other in the west. Truly the Lord has blessed this work and He
will be praised and . exalted by those who dwell there forever."
SAINT JOHN BOSCO- JOURNALIST
AINT FRANCIS OF SALES was chosen by Saint John Bosco as the
Patron of his Society because of his kindness, couteousness, and
zeal for the saving of souls. But Saint Francis had other traits also
which Saint John Bosco admired and imitated. He was the man for all
doctrinal controversies, the pattern for courteous and learned apologists,
the first writer of tracts, the tireless mission preacher, and therefore
he seemed to Saint John Bosco to be a model for those who .w ere to
defend Catholic truth by word and pen, by sermon and by press. That
Don Bosco did not err is seen quite plainly in the fact that Pope Pius
XI recently shose Saint Francis of Sales as the Patron of the Catholic
Press.
Of Saint John Bosco's work in the spread of the printed word no one
could comment upon it more · a prop than one of the foremost Catholic
editors of our day, The Rev. James M. Gillis, C.S.P., of the Catholic
World, who is distinguished also as a leading preacher and lecturer.
Says Father Gillis: "That very caption 'Journalist' appended to Don
Bosco's name is evidence that sanctity is compatible with modernity.
For journalism is decidedly a modern trade. There were no journalists
in medieval or ancient times. Father Hecker, founder of the Paulists,
himself an apostle of the press, used to say that if Saint Paul were to
come again, he would take to journalism. But of course in his day it was
come again, he would take to journalism. But of course in his day it was·
impossible. There was no printing press and if there had been, the
Roman emperors would not have permitted its use in the propagation
of the faith. But the modern apostle Don Bosco had one a dvan tage
over the ancient, and he had the sense imd the cou.rage to seize upon it:
For he had a modern mind. He said, 'In everything that is for the
good of souls I believe in being with the advance guard of pr0gress.
"Furthermore, he had the wit to r ecognize that you cannot reach the
mass of the people with ponderous tomes of dignified literature. Folios
and quartos and octavos packed with learning are all very well as a
means of communication from one scholarly mind to others. But our
S
DON BOSCO IN THE WEST
1
15
Saint had no · ambition to break into the field pre-empted by Saint
Thomas Aquinas and Saurez and Lugo, or even with that of Saint Robert
Bellarmine. He would write not tomes but tracts. In that humbler vocation he was evidentLy a master. To this day there are 'high brows' who
pretend to despise what they call 'mere journalism,' but the suspicion of
snobbishness hangs over their disdain. To write good stuff for the people
in a style that they understand and enjoy requires no small talent.
The few who possess that talen do far more for faith and morals than
they who write learnedly and ponderously for the elite. Don Bosco had
the gift and made u,se of it. He was not only founder, philanthropist
and saint, but an outstanding apostle of the press, God's journalist."
THE SALESIAN SISTERS
S
AINT JOHN BOSCO is also the founder of a Religious Society for
women, who art' often called Salesian Sisters, but whose official
title is Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. What the Salesian Society
does on behalf of boys, the Sisters do among girls.
One night Saint John Bosco dreamt that he was crossing one of the
big squares in Turin. Suddenly he came upon a great number of young
girls entirely left to their own resources. Some were amusing themselves
as best as they could, while others were quarreling, their cries mingling
with the happy voices of those playing. When they saw Don Bosco,
they seemed to forget aU their games and sdisputes and made a general
rush in his direction. "Three cheers for Don Bosco!" they cried, somewhat
embarrassing the saint who smilingly tried to escape from them. But
they surrounded him, catching his hand and holding on to his cassock,
all the while pleading: "0 Don Bosco, do not leave us! We have no
one to look after us."
The saint's big heart, vast as the sea, was touched. Nevertheless
he tried to continue on his way, excusing himself in these words, "My
little ones, indeed I love you well, but how can I look after you? I
have my hands already more than full with my boys."
Here a gracious Lady, whose countenance beamed with celestial light,
came u.pon the scene. Recognizing her, for she was the same august
personage of other dreams, he obediently waited for her .to speak 1;o
him. Stretching out her arms in a wide, embracing gesture toward
the group of young girls, she said: "Take them, for they . too are my
children." Then the vision disappeared. Henceforth the Divine Will was
plain to Don Bosco's mind.
We shall leave the rest of the story to the able pen of Sister Paulina
of the Visitation Order, who under the nome de plume of M. S. Pine
is well known for several inspiring books and poems, among which is
also a life of Don Bosco, the first to be published in the United States,
Sister Paulina has long been an ardent ·friend and admirer of Don Bosco
and things Salesian.
16
DON BOSCO IN THE WEST
"From that auspicious day in 1862," she writes, "when Don Bosco's
Sons pronounced their first vows, and the Salesian Society took form,
the heart of the great apostle yearned for a similar Society of protection
for poor, neglected you,ng girls and orphans.
"Don Bosco had met in the Village of Mornese a zealous priest,
Don Pestarino, who had gathered together several young girls of unusual
piety into a little association which was effecting great good in the
Parish, especially among the children. There were seven; and at their
head was saintly Mary Mazzarello, then twenty-four years of .age. Don
Bosco made several visits to Mornese during the following years, watching
the spiritual progress of the group under Don Pestarino's care, while
he deliberated and prayed.
"In 1870 the devout band had increased to fifteen and was still
growing. In 1871, Don Bosco's resolution was formed. He, with his
Chapter, decided to create a second Salesian army of women to win the
souJs of young girls, to educate them for an earthly destiny of virtue
and usefulness reward of eternal life.
"Don Bosco's serious illness caused some delay in the maturing of
his plans. But at last on the Feast of Saint Francis of Sales, January
29, 1872, at a word of Don Bosco, the future Religious, who now
numbered twenty seven, elected Mary Mazzarello as Superior; then, with
• zealous ardor and heroic spirit of self-sacrifice, they proceeded to the
study and practice vf the Rules of Perfection divised for them by Don
Bosco, in preparation for their Clothing in the habit of Religion.
"On the feast of Our Lady of the Snows, August 5th, the sacred
function was performed by the Bishop of Acqui, assisted by their future
, apostle and guide Don Bosco, who gave their Society the name so dear to
his heart, 'Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.' He then installed the:n
in a new Home in Mornese, addressing them with words of inspiration
and prophecy which have been fulfilled beyond all human expectation .
."In those early days these heroines of charity imbided the interior
spirit of their Father, and his passionate enthusiasm for never-ceasing
: 'work, work,' for sou.ls. And that spirit has been transmitted through
· the years to all the Daughters of Mary, who live in a celestial atmosphere
: within while carrying on their beautiful apostolate for the young girls,
who crowd . their schools and Oratories.
"Mother Mary Mazzarello and her Daughters remained nine years
· at Mornese, effecting wonders of good amid extreme poverty and everrecurring trials. Yet they soon multiplied to seventy members. Bishops
began to call for Foundations. Turin, Chieri and other towns · led the
· way, in 1880, to the large provincial town of Monferrato, which soon
; became illustrious as the seat of the Mother House and . Novitiate of
the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.
"An - astonishing development of their apostolic an.d educative works
' was soon visible . .Centers were established in ~he capitals and cities of
Europe, America, and Asia. And the scope of their labors became expanded in a variety of ways, according to social needs, the relief of the
poor soffering, and their own exeperience of the demands of far-away
missions.
,.
DON BOSCO IN THE WEST
17
-~~~--------------~
"So that our HQly Father, Pius XI, in addressing the Superior General
of the Salesian Society, took pleasure in giving this valuable testimony:
<We do not see any form of Apostolate which these sisters have not
initiated during the last half-century.'"
The Apostolate of the Salesian Sisters i3 at present being carried on
in the following forms: 413 Festive Oratories; 95 Orphanages; various
Schools and Colleges, Kindergartens, Houses for Young Workers, '-nd
Residences for Ladies; 60 Houses of training of new members; 2 Houses
for the training of Missionaries; and a number of other aetivities.
Their foul)dations number 712 Houses, the Sisters being about 91000.
THE SALESIAN CO-OPERATORS
TT will be profitable to keep in mind the following incident from the
life of Saint John Bosco while giving a few moments' attention. to
the subject of the Salesian Co-operators. Saint John Bosco needed some
one to help him in his work for the poor boys of the Oratory he was
founding in Turin, Some one suggested he get his mother. He asked ·
her and she agreed. On Nevember 3, 1846, he and his mother started
to walk the thirty miles from Becchi, his birth place and where his
mother bad her humble home. They traveled light. He carried his
Breviary, a Missal, and some books; she had in a basket some linen
and her c}Qthes, Thus equipped, as the Apostles of old, the mother and
son hiked along the dusty roads. A Turin priest, Father Vola, who met
them en route, stopped them and questioned the two. He learned they had
no money; there were no preparations at the end of the journey ·to
receive them. Touched at this poverty Father Vola searched in his
pockets. He had no money with him either. So he unfastened his watch
and gave it to Don Bosco, telling him to sell it and use the proceeds
for his reseals. Both Father Vola and Don Bosco's mother were what
we call Salesian Co-operators. They both acted according to their means.
The Pious Union of Salesian Co-operators was founded by Saint John
Bosco with the approbation of the Holy See in order to enbale Catholics
to help his work in accordance with their means and with greater spiritual advantage. His Holiness, Pope Pius XI, has defined it as a
"nucleus of Catholic Action." Through this Union, Catholics of over
sixteen . years of age apply all legitimate modern means of propaganda
to promote spiritual welfare, especially on behalf of · young people, in
accordance with the methods, spirit, and program of Saint John Bosco.
Jn other words, it is an extension of the Salesian Soc;iety to a broader
field among the laity, a kind of Salesian Third Order,
Once, one has become a Co-operator one must strive to acquire a
greater spirit of piety, and also to advance every form of good work
that tends to better the religious, moral, and civil welfare. of the young,
especial1y of poor orphans BJ)d of those whose morals and faith are
18
DON BOSCO IN THE WEST
·in danger. They should also, in accordance with. their means, help
v9cqtions to the priesthood and the religious state, promote the diffusion of good books, and aid the foreign missions. There are no dues
. and . there is no fixed time for lending assistance. To explain further,
· ~ .Co-operator ought first of all to pray for the success of the Salesian
'. uJldertakings. Then, after the example of Jesus Christ, he should do
'as much . good as possible to his fellow-men irrespective of nationality,
' creed or color. As to the nature, manner, and extent of assistance,
Sai~t Johri Bosco left each Co-operator entirely free. It should be remembered that there are many ways of assisting the Salesians in their
work besides by giving alms. The following story
illustrate:
will
"What shall I do with him?" asked a young woman about her young
son, who was reaching the age when a man's guidance was needed
to mold into f irmer lines the character ah·eady prepare~ by the mother's
tenderness. "You see," she continued, ·"I want to send him to a boarding
school where I can be certain of the Catholic atmosphere as well as
' of the excellence of the education imparted·. I have read all the advertisments of the Catholic schools but am still u,;Jdecided, for th<>"
:a ll seem to cry the same wares. Can you give me any advice on .the
·subject, since your boy is already at a boarding school?"
The person thus add1•essed happened to be ·a Salesian Co-operator.
She was the proud moth er of a boy whom she had sent to a Salesian,
school arid was consequently a compet-ent a dviser in the matter. Well
I ·must say, I am greatly pleased with the progress he is making at sch~o l
He i_s · certainly vastly improved both intellectually and spiritually, As :tar
' as I can judge the education at the Salesian school is not a mass education
.but an individual one. The Brothers and Priests _take _a personal · interest
"in their pupils and form their characters more by ' conviction thari by
!o;·ce. As far as is p racticable the home influence . is exerted by these
rel'gTous - so tha t the boys do not lose that refinement they obtaineJ
:from mother's contact while at the same time they do not become
'effeminate as do boys who are kept too long tied to the maternal
~pron strings. The Catholi~ at~osphere is certainly · in these · ~c:hools
and the education provided is comparable with that of any other school
of the like nature. You certainly will make no mistake if wou decide
to en'.;rus: Bcbby to the ~are of the Salesians, Another point that is
worthy of notice, the fees are within reach of the pocket of us middleclass
people without any too great strain upon our resources.!'
Bobby ~as sent to a Salesian school. That was effective co-operation.
What reward will a Co-operator receive for his trouble? The answer
is plain. Besides the general reward which Almighty "God bestows upon
all the -.doers of gooJ works, . the Co-operaters enjoy many spirituaL
favors and pr·ivileges,· .especially the sharing . in the good works, · per~
formed by the Salesians all over the world. If you wish to have
fon-rted by the Salesians all over . the world. If "you wish to have further
information regarding the C-operators kindly write to·: Very Rev. Father
fr~ v incial, 6G6 -. filbert St. San Fran;:isco, Calif., or to Salesian Seminary,
Ri;:hmon:l, California.
DON BOSCO IN THE WEST
19
AT ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH, IN LOS ANGELES
Vincentli.ans in Quarterly Meetina:
Several hundred delegates -to the quarterly meeting of the ·Soei~ty ef
St. Vincent which stands as memory of the special devotion of one
The Mas~ was celebrated by His Excellency Most Rev. Bishop Cantwell,
who also preached the sermon. The members received Holy Communion
which was followed by breakfast in the School audiatorium at 9:30 o'clock.
President MacDonald opened the meeting and took occasion to complement the pastor, Rev. Thomas J. DeMatei, S.C., upon the splendid
training of the .boy acoLytes who assisted at the Bishop's Mass. ·
Father DeMatei responding, welcomed the Most · Rev. Bishop, visiting ·
clergymen . and confreres of the Society. He spoke of the bond of affectio~
between St. Vincent de Paul, patron of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and St. Francis de Sales, patron of the Salesian Congregation.
He also mentioned the great admiration in . which St. Vincent de Paul
was · held by St. John Bosco, founder of the Salesian Fathers. It was
this recently canonized saint who organized the first St. Vincent de
Paul Conference in Northern Italy. St. John Bosco is al1o the author
of a beautiful book of daily meditations accordina: to the spirit of
~t. Viincent which stands as memory of the special devotion of one
saint to another. In fact Don Bosco has frequently been ·called the
St. Vincent de Paul of the nineteenth century.
Bishop Cantwell, in addressing the meeting, evinced hia pleasure at
a ttending the meeting in the church of the Salesian Fathers and paid
tribute to their Founder. The Bishop said that he had visited the city
of Turin, the home of the saint and had sensed for himself the religious
life and good works of the saint who had sponsored ~nd taken .the
greatest interest in boy's work during his ·holy priesthood in Christ'•
vineyard.
Catechism Work.
On Friday, Deceber 21st, the children of St. Patrick's School had
their Christmas Entertainment and were treated to a su.rpriae at the
f oot of a large Christmas tree that had been prepared in the Scheol
auditorium.
On the afternoon of the same day, over 500 children of the seven
Catechism ·Centres for Public School Children were also delia:htfully
surprised at a beautiful Christmas play presented by the girls of the
St . Mary's Academy. After the entertainment all were given a larce
christmas stocking which revealed plenty of candy and toy according
to the age of the child.
The Salesian Fathers sincerely thank the Sisters of St. Joseph of
Carondelet and their pupils as well as the ladies of the Christian
Doctrine Confraternity for the Success of this Christmas party for ·so
many children many of whom received no other Christmas dainties.
20
DON BOSCO IN THE WEST
THE VENERABLE DOMINIC SAVIO
E
IGHT is the number of those who, following the saintly example
and wise maximil of Saint John Bosco, have reached precious
heights of s a~ctity, and whose causes of Beatification and Canonization
have' already been introduced and, it woul:d seem, are well on their way
to a happy termination. We shall limit ourselves to one of them-a young
boy, a pupil of Saint John Bosco, the Venerable Dominic Savio. The
facile pen of father Neil Boyton, S. J., has concisely 1mmmed up for
us the main features of his life as follows :·
"Of all the boys who came under Saint John Bosco's sanctifying ininfluence the one who .profited the most was the Venerable Dominic Savio.
Brief is his eartly record. He was born
April 2, 1842, at Riva di Chieri, a small
Piedmontese village. Seven years later
he was permitted to make his first
Holy Communion, at which time h~
made these mature resolutions:
"1. I will go to Confession often
and to Holy Communion as frequently
as the priest lets me;·
"2. I wish to keep holy the Sunday
and holydays in a special manner;
"3. My friends shall be Jesus and
Mary;
"4. Death rather than sin.
"At twelve this child, already a long
way down the road to sanctity, came
to the Turin Oratory. Don Bosco himself
has told of their meeting. Asked Dominic: 'And what do you think you
can make of me, Father?' 'Something
beautiful and acceptable to God, my
child.' Thus was the compact made and sequel showed how well the
material turned out. At the Oratory this young saint in the makinig
was distinguished for his cheerfulness, his humble obedience, and his
constant devotion to the Boy Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, Jesus
returned this ardent love by supernatural r evelations. In three short years,
Ma r ch · 9; 1857, his Divine Friend called him closer, and Dominic's last
words .were, 'Oh, what beautiful things I see!"
"Dominic is buried most appropriately near his spiritual father in the
Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, Turin .
. "The cause of this fifte en year-old boy was introduced in Feb~uary,
1914, and Pius XI declared him Venerable in July, 1933."
When Dominic Savio was declared Venerable, the Holy Father Pope
Pi.u s XI made an eloquent discourse in which he extolled the virtues of
this "Little Flower" of Don Bosco's school. In part he said: "It is holiness
I
~
DON BOSCO IN THE WEST
21
of life, we might almost say, perfection of the Christian life that we find
in this saintly boy who had none of those great aids that usually go to
the accomplishment of great things. Poor, humble ch.i ld of virtuous parents
with limited means, he possessed a wealth of Christian inspirations. His ·
truly Christian life was passed in the humblest conditions, in the fulfillment of the ordinary duties of everyday life. He did not. spend his years in
a garden of roses sheltered and protected, but first out in the world, then
where Divine Providence placed him, and later among the boys whom that
great soul Don Bosco used to gather tog·ether and train. He was molded,
remolded and sanctified in this procetis and examples sometimes good
and sometimes otherwise ...
"At all times he was a little but great apostle. He seized, nay, he
created occasion for his zeal, and thus his apostolic activities ranged from
the formal catechism class he taught, to the merry share he took in the
chlidren's games,........;all in order to draw them to higher things. He seems a
very Godsend in our own day. For this is just what we have been saying
over and over again .to our young people-and indeed their answer has
been and is throughout the world a most generous one, as we acknowledge with a deep sense of gratitude towards God and men. The young
people of all parts of the world are answering our call to arms under the
banner of Catholic Action which does not want to be, which must not
be taught else than the participation of the laity in the hierarchy's.
apostolate.
"And it is precisely in order to be this, that there must be first of all
a deep thoughtful dilicate formation of Christian life, of Christian conscience, whose strength lies above all in a pure life and in true piety
drawn from . the great piety of the · Church, from her unceasing prayer
and union with God.
"We wish to say that the answer to our call has been so great, and,
in its very abundance, so priceless, that our soul is truly filled with the
deepest gratitude, while at the same time hopes rise in our heart-hopes
which belong not only to the Church, to our holy religion, but are also
through a happy necessity, the hopes and sure pledges for the family,
for society, for the whole human race.
"In truth have we summond our dear young people under the glorious
banner of prayer, of action, and of sacrifice; because it is by prayer
and sacrifice that action is prepared; by fervent prayer, by intimate
sacrifice, personal sacrifice; that sacrifice which is rooted in the spirit,
in penance, in Christian mortification. Thus, and only thus, may we
prepare ourselves for the action of a fruitful apostolate; and apostolate
which human means alone can never accomplish, no matter how high,
how generous, but which essentially · needs the divine assistance, a
divine assistance that cannot be obtained otherwise.
"Such things recall once more the figure of the great Don Bosco,
the master of the little venerable servant of God, Domenic Savio. That
great figure we saw also so close at hand and for no brief period of
time; saw him just as he has been shown to u.s in the life of his
little disciple by the outstanding characteristics of that short existence.
22
T.
DON BOSCO IN THE WEST
SALESIAN EDUCATION
HE system . of education used_ by Saiesians (~nd by the Sisters as
. well) follow the example of Saint John Bosco who sought to prevent
wrong-doing rather than to punish it after it was committed. This is
Why , it is call.ed the Preventive System. We hear so much nowadays
about preventing pyorrhea, preventing gray hair, preventing fallen
arches, preventing crime. The ·S alesians enrleayor .to prevent sin,
to prevent God being offended, to
prevent moral disasters, to prevent
souls from being lost.
There are, and always have
been, two main systems of education, the preventive and the repressive. The latter is well known
and consists in a free use of the
rod. A child commits a fault and
suffers for it. The preventive system, on the . other. hand, is what
might be termed the helping system.
Preventive in its original
meaning was the same as helping.
_ With the course of time the meaning has changed, but here the old
meaning is · retained. The preventive system then is that in which
the pupil is placed in the moral
impossibility of committing a fault.
How' is this accomplshed ? By
spying? Such a thing is diametrically opposed to the spirit of
Saint john Bosco. According to
his method the educator must
Very Rev. Pietro Rica,ldone, Rector
General of the Salesia't'l '-oCongregation always .be with those under his
care, but not as policeman or
as a superintendent. His duty is to help-this is why in Salesian terminology he is called an assistant .
... A Salesian assistant must always be present to assist in games, or
to take 'charge of the discipline in the class or study hall. By example
rather than · by word he is to be a leader in doing good. In this way
a pupil's responsability for his own acts is by no means diminished.
He · 111e'r ely follows the guidance of his visible angel guardian as well
as a te-acher. Occasions of evil are as far as possible removed and
ingenuousness, one of the most attractive charms of youth, is easily
preserved.
DON BOSCO IN THE WEST
23
It is clear, however, that while such a system is quite agreeable
to puplis, it demands a great spirit of self-sacrifice from the educator.
The duty of" constant watchfulness does not permit a Salesian to be his
own master, even when teaching hours are over. His life is regulated
by the needs of his charges. These needs are much more numerous outside
class hours than during these times. It is easy to watch a class of boys
or girls engaged in study. It is far otherwise during the hours of
recreation. Everyone must be occupied, and this duty falls to every
Salesian. No one mu st be left to his own devices, but must be assisted
or helped to amuse himself in legitimate ways. The demand upon the
Salesian is a heavy one. He must give not so many hours a day and
so many days a week to his charg-e s, but his whole life and his whole self.
Now we come to the most important element in the Salesian method
of education-Religion. Without it there can be no success. The object of
education
is not only the brain, but also and principally the hearthence its supreme importance. It is the one thing that completely appeals
both to mind and heart.
Let St. John Bosco himself speak to us on this point. "Religion and
reason," he says, "are the two sourc-es of all my educational system.
.The educator must persuede himself that all, or almost an; youths have
a natural intelligence to know the good that is done to them personally,
and that they are also gifted with an impressible heart ready to .manifest
gratitude. When the educator has succeeded in penetrating their souls
with the principal mysteries of our holy religion, which tell of the
immense love of God for man; when he has arrived at a point where
gratitude for the benefits of God begins to vibrate in their hearts;
when, in fine, by means of reason they have become persuaded that
real gratitude to God must consist in doing the- will of God and in
_keeping His precepts, then he rightly believes that a great part of the
work of education has been performed. Religion, in this system, has the
office of the curb put into the mouth of a fiery courser, which dominates
and directs him; while reason on the other hand, takes the place of the
bridle and produces the desired effect. My system is based upon true religion, which dominates the actions of youth, and upon reason rightly applying those holy dictates to one's rule of action."
Will you insist that the whip is inseparable from curb and bridle?
Saint John Bosco will answer your objection. "In my system," he continues "the whip is not altogether excluded. It is found in the salutary
threat' of future punishments. Reflect that many and terrible _are the
punisments religion threatens to those who, not heeding the precepts of
God, dare to despise His Commandments; they are severe an~ terrible
- threats which, if kept in mind, will never fail to produce their _effect .
.so mu~h the more since this are not punishments limited to external
actions but also include the most secret and hidden thoughts. To implant
a pers~asion of this truth more deeply, there are added the since're
pratices of religion, the frequent reception of the Sacremnts and the
insistence of the educator. And, it , is certain that, with the help of
_God, this system will easily succeed in making good Christians of all
men even of the most obstinate. Besides, when boys are persuaded that
1
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24
DON BOSCO IN THE WEST
. he who directs them sincerely loves and desires their welfare, · it will
be enough as an efficacious punishment to use a more reserved bearing
toward them manifesting his interiior displeasure at seeing his paternal
kindness ·disregarded. This system is certainly the most efficacious,
because by the : practice of religion it will also be the most blessed by
God."
BURSES FOR THE EDUCATION
OF SALESIAN PRIESTS
Do you wish a priest to call you Father or Mother and to share with
him . in all the merits of his ministry? Then adopt a boy of the Salesian
House of Studies at Richmond, Calif. Help him to become a priest.
If you cannot contribute for an entire burse, whatever offering you
can give will be gratefully accepted.
We have reduced the amount needed for a burse to a minimum, $2,500.
This can be divided as follows~
(a) $200.00 a year for the maintenance of a student during three years
of philosophy and four years of theology. This amounts to $1,400.00' for
the seven years.
(b) $100.00 a year for clothing, or $700.00 for the complete course.
(c) $50.00 a year for books and stationery, or $350.00 for the complete
course.
(d) $50.00 for sundries.
It is not necessary that the entire amount be given all at once. You
may give according to your ability.
If you desire to adopt a boy, we shall send you his name.
From the moment he will be your spiritual son. You will follow his
steps -along his way to the priesthood, and during his apostolic work after
his ordination.
'your materi~l contribution will be re_turned into the divine activities of
a minister of Chirst. You will share his merits in this life and in the
next. Please reflect on this 'wonderful proposition and accept it. If you
cannot accept it yourself, kindly suggest it to some of 'your relatives, and
when convenient please do not forg-et the Salesian Aspirants in . your
donations.
I
I
J
ASSOCIATION OF SALESIAN CO-OPERATORS
Western Branch
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.
666 FILBERT STREET
•
My dear Salesian Co-operator:
The new publication "Don Bosco in the West" shall be printed bimonthly and will be sent to you, at time of issue, as is also now the
"Salesian Bulletin" (the official organ of Salesian Co-operators) which
you are receiving directly from our motherhouse at Turin, Italy.
In case of failure to receive either publication, as well as other
communications, please, notify us at above address.
Sincerely yours,
Very Rev. Ambrose Roi;si, S. C. Provincial
I O/k 71J3
:
THE
P I 0 U S U N I 0 N' 0 F . S~A L E S I A N
COOPERATORS
.
Origin.-It was founded by Saint John Bosco and is
.the Third Order of the Salesian Society.
Its Object.-:To promote a spirit of . piety among its
members and to advance every form of good works
tends to better the religious, moral, and civil
welfare of the young, especially of poor and neglected children. It includes also· helping vocations
to the priesthood and the religious state, the foreign missions, and the diffusion of good books.
.
.
.
Ways and Mea!ns.- Prayer and material support according t9 one's means . .
Advantages.-Many spiritual favors and privileges,
especially the sharing in the good works performed
by the Salesians all over the world.
Membership.-Go9d practical CathoJics of sixteen
years of age or over are eligible. Application
should be made to the
VERY REVEREND FATHER PROVINCIAL
666 Filbert Street
San FranCisco, California
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YOUNG MEN
.
.
~.
wishing to become Priests or
Lay Brothers· in the
SOCIETY ·oF SAINT FRANCIS OF SALES
Founded by Saint John Bosco
are asked to write to
VERY REVEREND FATHER PROVINCIAL
666 Filbert St., San Francisco, Calif.
or to
SALESIAN SEMINARY
Richmond, California
Lack of means does not impede entrance into the Seminary
:•
.
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