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.”

We begin with a background study of the documentation that was compiled for Don Bosco’s beatification process. Next we try to clarify what the Church understood by “heroic virtue” during the years in question. Step three allows us “to meet” the different witnesses whose testimony we will examine, with a brief biographical sketch of each individual, followed by the list of questions which they were likely asked when they “took the witness stand.” This, it is hoped, will allow us to get a better grasp of the actual statements they made as they recalled for the canon lawyers who Don Bosco was for them.

INDEX

• Introduction
  • 1. The Documentation
  • 2. Ingredients in the Beatification Process
  • 3. Images and Definitions of Faith During the Period in Question
  • 4. Descriptions of a “Man of Faith” by Eyewitnesses
  • 5. From Anecdotes to a Practical Trademark of Heroic Faith

Reference time period: 1890 – 1929

Reference institution:
Institute of Salesian Studies