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””
Amongst the documents drawn up by the third (1883) and fourth (1886) General Chapter of the Salesian Congregation – which the founder also took part in – of particular merit is the new Regulations for the festive oratories and deliberations regarding Orientations for the working boys in Salesian houses. The two documents were published, as already recorded, in 1887.
The Programme—also called Regulations—of the school in Mornese was printed by Don Bosco at the Oratory Press like all the other Regulations for Salesian houses. The text copies many of the items in use at colleges he founded.
In the years from 1853 to 1862, Valdocco was transformed from a festive Oratory—an open institution—into a complex work: hospice and boarding, college with boarding section, trade workshops, internal classes and publishing centre, amongst the most important sections.
In 1863, Saint John Bosco undertook a pivotal study by founding the Mirabello College and crafting meticulous regulations for its governance. These regulations, initially handwritten and later printed, were intended as the foundational statute for future institutions. Continue reading “Giovanni Bosco – “First salesian colleges founded outside Turin (1863-1864)” in “Salesian Sources 1. Don Bosco and his work. Collected Works””
Amongst the more original practices put in place as part of the educational praxis at Valdocco, and maintained in the Salesian tradition that then followed from it, we would have to highlight the “Goodnights”: brief “talks” or “short speeches” after night prayers. Don Bosco addressed the pupils in the presence of their educators (superiors of the house, teachers assistants), in a familiar way using simple and attractive language.
In the late 19th century, Saint John Bosco, or Don Bosco, expressed deep concern over the detrimental impact of bad literature on young students. In response, he initiated the establishment of the “Library for Italian Youth” or “Library of Italian Classics” in 1868, a tangible effort to provide a positive alternative. Continue reading “Giovanni Bosco – “Educational reading and spreading good books (1860-1885)” in “Salesian Sources 1. Don Bosco and his work. Collected Works””
The ten brief documents that follow—some perhaps less known than the previous ones in Salesian history—are also interesting from the point of view of the maturing and practice of Don Bosco’s educational system. We have a necessarily limited selection here of personal letters to people responsible for public education, or to young people and teachers, and circulars on pedagogical and didactic issues.
In his 1877 booklet on pedagogy, Don Bosco highlights the advantages of the Preventive System and other reasons for which it should be preferred. At the same time he recognises that the “practical application” of the educational approach he is proposing implies “certain difficulties” for educators.
“The Preventive System in the Education of the Young” (1877) is a foundational work by Don Bosco, emerging from a speech at the opening of the Patronage de Saint-Pierre in Nice. Continue reading “Giovanni Bosco – “Prevention and education (1877-1878): The Preventive System in the Education of the Young” in “Salesian Sources 1. Don Bosco and his work. Collected Works””
This passage delves into the historical and biographical narrative titled “The Sway of a Good Upbringing,” a pivotal document commencing the representation of Don Bosco’s genuine experiences as an educator. Continue reading “Giovanni Bosco – “Educational experiences in the school and family setting (1855)” in “Salesian Sources 1. Don Bosco and his work. Collected works””
This passage delves into two authentic presentations of Don Bosco’s educational system, documented in conversations with Urban Rattazzi in 1854 and Francis Bodrato in 1864. Despite being recorded later in 1881-1882, these discussions consistently portray the core tenets of Don Bosco’s educational philosophy. Continue reading “Giovanni Bosco – “Don Bosco’s educational method in confidential discussions with a politician (1854) and an elementary school teacher (1864)” in “Salesian Sources 1. Don Bosco and his work. Collected Works””
The Confidential Reminders, originating from a letter to Fr. Michael Rua in 1863, evolved into a comprehensive guideline for Salesian rectors, directors, and educators. Initially a private letter providing guidance for the new Salesian house in Mirabello Monferrato, it expanded and became the “Confidential Reminders for Rectors of Individual Houses of the Salesian Society” by 1871. Continue reading “Giovanni Bosco – “Guidelines for running salesian houses (1863-1887)” in “Salesian Sources 1. Don Bosco and his work. Collected works””
“Osserva che sta per chiudersi il Mese di Maria per lasciare il posto al Mese del S . Cuore ( V art.192 Manuale e pag. 17 Deliberazioni Cap. Gen VII ). Esorta tutte a passarlo nel maggior fervore, offrendo le pie pratiche di esso secondo le intenzioni di S.S. Papa Benedetto XV, invocando benedizioni sugli esami delle nostre alunne e pregando perché l ’animo di queste si disponga a passar bene le vacanze.”
Continue reading “Caterina Daghero – Lettera Circolare del 24 maggio 1915”
“Spiacente nel dover ritardare le partecipazioni riguardanti gli Esercizi Spirituali, data l’anormalità dei tempi; spera, ciò nondimeno, di poter fra breve prendere deliberazioni in proposito, che si farà premura di comunicare. Continue reading “Caterina Daghero – Lettera Circolare del 24 giugno 1915”
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