Questa relazione presenta un’analisi del processo di invecchiamento dei Salesiani (SDB) nella Regione Iberica, con un focus sull’Ispettoria di Leon, nel periodo compreso tra il 1964 e il 1988.
Francesco Maraccani – “Avanzamento dell’età nei salesiani dell’Europa occidentale” in “Invecchiamento e vita salesiana in Europa. Dati, prospettive, soluzioni”
L’estratto offre un quadro dettagliato della situazione dei Salesiani dell’Europa occidentale negli ultimi vent’anni, con particolare attenzione all’invecchiamento dei confratelli e ai fattori che ne hanno influenzato l’evoluzione.
José Manuel Prellezo – “L’Oratorio di Valdocco nelle «Conferenze capitolari» (1866-1877). Introduzione e testi critici” in “Ricerche storiche salesiane”
L’obiettivo di questo saggio è la pubblicazione dell’ edizione critica di un manoscritto assai significativo di don Michele Rua, nel quale vengono raccolte le deliberazioni prese dal Capitolo (Consiglio) della casa di Valdocco nel periodo 1866-1877. Continue reading “José Manuel Prellezo – “L’Oratorio di Valdocco nelle «Conferenze capitolari» (1866-1877). Introduzione e testi critici” in “Ricerche storiche salesiane””
Pietro Ricaldone – “Circa la prossima Canonizzazione del Beato Don Bosco – Strenna per il 1934” in “Atti del Capitolo Superiore”
Belle, indimenticabili giornate furono il 19 novembre e il 3 dicembre in cui venivano letti i due Decreti. Nel primo la Suprema Autorità Apostolica riconosceva, autenticava e proclamava la voce dei miracoli, attestante da parte di Dio la santità del nostro Beato Padre; con l’altro poi dalla medesima Autorità si apriva definitivamente la via alla solenne Canonizzazione. Continue reading “Pietro Ricaldone – “Circa la prossima Canonizzazione del Beato Don Bosco – Strenna per il 1934” in “Atti del Capitolo Superiore””
Aldo Giraudo,Francesco Motto,José Manuel Prellezo – “Introduzione” in “Fonti Salesiane 1. Don Bosco e la sua opera. Raccolta ontologica”
I curatori del volume hanno dovuto fare una selezione ampia dei materiali disponibili negli archivi e delle opere stampate di don Bosco (raccolte in 37 volumi) in tre ambiti principali: storia, pedagogia e spiritualità. Continue reading “Aldo Giraudo,Francesco Motto,José Manuel Prellezo – “Introduzione” in “Fonti Salesiane 1. Don Bosco e la sua opera. Raccolta ontologica””
Pascual Chavez Villanueva – “Presentazione del Rettor Maggiore” in “Fonti Salesiane 1. Don Bosco e la sua opera. Raccolta ontologica”
Il Rettor Maggiore, in occasione dell’inizio del Bicentenario della nascita di don Bosco e della fine del suo mandato, esprime la sua soddisfazione per la pubblicazione del primo volume delle Fonti salesiane, intitolato “Don Bosco e la sua opera. Raccolta antologica”. Questo volume era stato richiesto dal Capitolo Generale XXVI per approfondire l’identità carismatica salesiana, e il compito di realizzarlo è stato affidato all’Istituto Storico Salesiano, che ha completato il lavoro sotto la direzione di don José Manuel Prellezo. Continue reading “Pascual Chavez Villanueva – “Presentazione del Rettor Maggiore” in “Fonti Salesiane 1. Don Bosco e la sua opera. Raccolta ontologica””
Giovanni Bosco – “Formation of the Salesians through conferences and dream accounts” in “Salesian Sources 1. Don Bosco and his work. Collected works”
The years of foundation and consolidation of the Salesian Society and the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians are ones where Don Bosco’s horizons expanded in an impressive manner. The priest of Valdocco, ever more aware of having received a divine mission, feels that he has been transported into a huge field of activity, given a charism that makes him father and founder of a movement of apostles, consecrated men and women who are destined to spread over space and time. His spiritual magisterium deepens, his proposals become more radical, all-embracing.
Giovanni Bosco – “Personal letters to Salesians and Daughters of Mary Help of christians” in “Salesian Sources 1. Don Bosco and his work. Collected works”
These brief items of correspondence, written in familiar tone, contain simple advice on spiritual life. Don Bosco knew those he wrote to, their character, defects, the circumstances in which they worked. In a practical way he invited them to focus on concrete attitudes essential for nurturing their attachment to their Salesian vocation, constantly keeping their hearts leaning to God and charity.
Giovanni Bosco – “Constitutional documents” in “Salesian Sources 1. Don Bosco and his work. Collected works”
The first document contained in this part (no. 225) is the oldest text of the rule that we have. It was written in beautiful handwriting by cleric Michael Rua between 1858 and 1859, beginning from an earlier draft by Don Bosco which has not been preserved. From this draft came all the other constitutional drafts up to the definitive document in 1874. To draw it up Don Bosco, who had no experience of consecrated life, had recourse to constitutions of other religious institutes.
Giovanni Bosco – “Don Bosco’s ‘theology’ of religious life” in “Salesian Sources 1. Don Bosco and his work. Collected works”
As an introduction to the first Italian edition of the Salesian Constitutions, published in 1875, Don Bosco wrote a wide-ranging letter To the Salesians, to guide them in interpreting the rules and to infuse in them a correct idea of religious life. He later refined and extended it with the help of the master of novices, Fr Barberis, for the third Italian edition of the Constitutions (1885). It is a relevant document from a spiritual point of view. “One can think of it as a brief summary, the most complete one, of what could be called Don Bosco’s theology of religious life. Ideas flow together in it which had matured in him little by little, beginning from when he wrote the history of the Church and the Popes, then as he drew up the Constitutions and documents written to gain approval, further enriched by local and general conferences, instructions given at retreats in the late 1860s and early 1870s, and expressed in individual letters and circulars and in private advice.”
Giovanni Bosco – “Appeals to private charity” in “Salesian Sources 1. Don Bosco and his work. Collected works”
The financial contributions asked for and obtained from public authorities and institutions were certainly not enough to help him confront the huge expenses of the Salesian Work. It was necessary to appeal to private charity. Logically, Don Bosco turned especially to families and individuals who had financial possibilities, meaning those belonging to the nobility, mostly large property owners, and the upper and middle class of the time who were notably ready to dispense charity. Some of these, albeit modest in their private savings, could actually find an outlet in educational and charitable works such as those of Don Bosco.
Giovanni Bosco – “Recourse to public charity” in “Salesian Sources 1. Don Bosco and his work. Collected work”
As we have just said, for the financial resources needed to supply the everincreasing costs of his work, Don Bosco appealed to institutions: the Royal family, Government authorities, public officials (local council, provincial, state …), existing charitable organisations locally, the National Bank, parishes, dioceses, the Holy See itself through his best supporters, including the Pope.
Giovanni Bosco – “A missionary project in rapid development” in “Salesian Sources 1. Don Bosco and his work. Collected work”
What were Don Bosco’s missionary plans for Argentina once he had set foot in that land? With the information in his possession thanks to research by Fr Giulio Barberis, and to correspondence with local authorities and Salesian missionaries, six months after the first expedition Don Bosco was able to send the Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide, Cardinal Alessandro Franchi, a first report on the immediate results of the work of Salesian missionaries in Argentina.
Giovanni Bosco – “Sources prior to the first missionary expedition” in “Salesian Sources 1. Don Bosco and his work. Collected work”
The first seven documents offered here belong in some way to the first missionary expedition which sailed from Genoa on November 14, 1875.
Giovanni Bosco – “Difficult relationships with the Archbishop of Turin” in “Salesian Sources 1. Don Bosco and his work. Collected work”
Relationships between Don Bosco and Archbishop Gastaldi went through two different stages, one of great understanding and cooperation, and another of notable difficulties and conflicts. The watershed could be considered to be Gastaldi’s transferral from the Episcopal See of Saluzzo to being Archbishop of Turin in 1871.