Joseph Boenzi – “Chastity in the salesian constitutions” in “Journal of Salesian Studies”

In a letter dated May 24, 1966, Fr. Luigi Ricceri (1901-1989), then Rector Major of the Salesian Society, introduced a new edition of the Constitutions to his confreres. Nearly one year had elapsed since the close of the nineteenth general chapter of the Salesian Society, and six months had passed since the close of Vatican II In this context, Fr. Ricceri introduced the constitutions which carried a number of changes that were to usher the Society toward its twentieth general chapter.

He affirmed that the modifications did not alter the spirit of the Rule.

Indeed, the rector major proudly characterized the “XIX General Chapter [-] the Chapter of Vatican Council II and of the 150th anniversary of the birth of our Father and Founder” – as having proved itself faithful to Don Bosco, “the torch which shines in all its splendor along the whole length of our road.”

Contents:

• Updating: Trends and Time-Lines
  • The Call of Vatican II
  • Experimentation, Crisis, Bewilderment
  • New Confidence and New Constitutions
  • Chastity and Renewal
• Analysis of Salesian Texts on Chastity
  • Tradition and Chastity in the Constitutions of 1966
  • Chastity treated as “Vow”
  • Chastity in the 1972 Constitutions
  • Closing reflections on the Constitutions of 1972
• Following the Chaste Christ: Constitutions of 1984
• Assessing the “Tone” of the Constitutional Changes

Reference time period: 1966 – 1984

Reference institution:
Institute of Salesian Studies