Francis de Sales’ use of imagery is an acknowledgment that reason alone is insufficient to plumb the mysteries of God’s love and certainly, unable to stimulate us to respond to the passionate love of God.
Stephen Whelan – “The Catholic Readings: writing for the masses” in “Journal of Salesian Studies”
The Letture Cattoliche or the Catholic Readings was St. John Bosco’s imaginative brainchild in his effort to bring good, decent and inspiring reading into the home. It appealed to a wide spectrum of persons from young to old, from commoners to high-born.
Michael Ribotta – “The «Big Rat» and the «Mad Priest of Turin» – Don Bosco’s relationship with Prime Minister Rattazzi” in “Journal of Salesian Studies”
Perhaps of all the leading political personages of the Italian Risorgimento with whom Don Bosco enjoyed some measure of friendship, Urbano Rattazzi’s name, like Abou Ben Adam’s, led the rest.
Arthur Lenti – “The founding and early expansion of the salesian work in the San Francisco area from Archival Documents” in “Journal of Salesian Studies”
Recently the Central Salesian Archives released the files of the Rua rectorate on some 1,750 microfiches. This boon has made archival research in that rectorate possible even for students residing away from the Central Archives.
Philip J. Pascucci – “Out of our past an american venture into seminary training” in “Journal of Salesian Studies”
That is part of the well known talk which Don Bosco gave to his boys when they were forced to move from place to place for their Sunday gatherings. That became known as the wandering oratory. This is the story of another transplanting, another wandering.
Joseph Boenzi – “St. Francis de Sales, bibliography of publications in English” in “Journal of Salesian Studies”
Over the last number of years “Salesian Spirituality,” first articulated by Francis de Sales and Jane Frances de Chantal, has attracted renewed interest in English-speaking countries. Theirs has been called a “spirituality of the heart,” and their prayer style has been dubbed intuitive, simple, spacious but unified and holistic.
Mary Greenan – “Salesian mysticism: towards the ectasy of action” in “Journal of Salesian studies”
Reflecting on Salesian spirituality brings us to the writings of St. Francis de Sales along with modern spiritual concepts. Sr. Mary Greenan explores the “ecstasies” of St. Francis de Sales calling us to be “contemplatives in action.”
Joseph Boenzi – “What is salesian in Don Bosco?” in “Journal of Salesian studies”
Joseph Boenzi writes of the many times that the figure of St. Francis de Sales enters into the life and ministry of Don Bosco. The final word may never be written on why Don Bosco chose Francis de Sales as the patron of his Congregation but What is Salesian in Don Bosco? throws light on the subject.
Continue reading “Joseph Boenzi – “What is salesian in Don Bosco?” in “Journal of Salesian studies””
Arthur Lenti – “Don Bosco’s political and religious concerns during the liberal revolution” in “Journal of Salesian studies”
Fr. Arthur Lenti, in a second article, invites us to enter the political and ecclesiastical world of Don Bosco through his letters never published before in English. The letters add insight to the always intriguing question of Don Bosco’s involvement in the naming of bishops.
Arthur Lenti – “Don Bosco’s definitive vocational commitment (1844-1846)” in “Journal of Salesian studies”
With his well-known capacity for research, Arthur Lenti details the year of 1846, critical for Don
Bosco, which covers his establishment of the work in Valdocco. Don Bosco’ s commitment to young people is the heart of the article.
Michael Mendl – “New information on the salesians’coming to New York” in “Journal of Salesian studies”
Fr. Michael Mendl, in his research has discovered “a long missing letter” that states Don Bosco’s refusal to send Salesians to New York in 1848. This letter completes Michael Mendl ‘s article in the Journal on founding Salesian work in New York. (Vol. XI, No. I, Spring 2000).
Josephine Giorgi – “St. Luigi Versiglia and Bishop Walsh of Maryknoll” in “Journal of Salesian studies”
A different type of writing comes to us from Josephine Giorgi, the second cousin of St. Luigi Versiglia. Josephine lives in Springfield, Massachusetts. The excerpt from a biography of Bishop James Walsh of Maryknoll by Raymond Kerri son exemplifies the apostolic spirit of the two Salesian martyrs along with Bishop Walsh’s deep esteem for them.
Charles N. Bransom – “Sons of Don Bosco, successors of the apostles, salesian bishops” in “Journal of Salesian studies”
Charles N. Bransom, Jr. has graciously offered his study of Salesian Bishops for our publication. This study of 196 Salesian bishops stands as a historical record of Salesian presence in the hierarchical Church.
Arthur Lenti – “Key-concepts, concerns and fears of a Founder-Don Bosco in his declining years Part II” in “Journal of Salesian Studies”
In an article which appeared in an earlier issue of this Journal, I described some of Don Bosco’s concerns, as he expressed them in meetings of his council and in sessions of General Chapters held during the last decade of his life.
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.”