Black-and-white photographs by Leonard von Matt (Stans, 1909 – Wolfenschiessen, 1988), taken in 1963 for the photographic volume on Don Bosco published by SEI (1965), with texts by Henri Bosco. The exceptions are the period photographs from the Saint’s own time and from the beginnings of the Salesian work, held by the Central Salesian Archive (then in Turin-Valdocco). The images follow the original section titles that mark the stages of Don Bosco’s life.

1. A DIFFICULT CHILDHOOD

Foto 1 — This group of houses is “The Becchi”, as seen from the Serra di Buttigliera. A church tower stands out above the trees. It belongs to the chapel put up in front of the house of his birth by the Salesians, on the first centenary of the birth of Don Bosco.

Foto 2 — Here Mamma Margaret was born into the Occhiena family. The house forms part of the hamlet of La Cecca, in the municipality of Capriglio. From here to the Becchi is just over a mile.

Foto 3 — The parish archives of Capriglio have preserved the Baptismal Register in which can be read that Mamma Margaret was born on April ist, 1788.

Foto 4 — Francis Bosco and Margaret Occhiena were married in this parish church at Capriglio.

Foto 5 — The Marriage Register entry dated 1812.

Foto 6 — The house in which Don Bosco was born. A very old photograph.

Foto 7 — John Melchior Bosco was baptised on August 17th, 1815, the day after his birth. The entry in the Baptismal Register, reproduced here, is kept in the parish archives at Castelnuovo.

Foto 8 — This is the farmhouse of the Bosco’s, at Becchi. Very modest, but it was their own. Today it has not changed much. The ground floor contains the kitchen and the cowhouse. Above, there are two low-ceilinged bedrooms, a landing with small windows, and a hay-loft. Poverty, but not misery.

Foto 9 — The parents’ bedroom; the only room to contain some decoration, rustic ornaments on the ceiling.

Foto 10 — In this kneading-trough Mamma Margaret mixed the flour and prepared John’s daily bread.

Foto 11 — Three cows and a cow-girl under the shade of two large willow trees. Nothing has changed in the last hundred years. The trees offered shade to both John and his mother when they brought their only cow to pasture. The soil here produces rich grass. A very pleasant scene. The hills and the clear skies have a charm of their own. The fields have no hedges; there is only a long stretch of green or reddish turf. The whole countryside of Capriglio, Becchi and Castelnuovo, where John learned his first trade as a shepherd, is similar to this.

2. A SERVANT AT MONCUCCO

Foto 12 — The Moglia farm near Moncucco, is one of the richest farmhouses. It is three miles from Castelnuovo. Here John was a farm-hand. He stayed in this house, on the first floor, to the left.

Foto 13 — The cowshed. Only John Bosco, the farm-hand, is missing.

Foto 14 — The hay-loft has its story. In bad weather John would gather the neighbouring boys here, and teach them their catechism. Where could he have spoken of the “ Good Shepherd” with greater effect?

Foto 15 — On the whole, the Moglias were good people, and did not treat John badly. The room they gave him was well lit, and the bed was comfortable. A room in which sleep brought him many dreams.

3. THE FIRST DREAM

Foto 16 — Dreams do not do away with study. By lamplight, or better still, and more cheaply, by candle light, the precocious and predestined boy studied, thought and began to work as busy as a bee making honey. After a hard day’s work, a quiet night invites one to study.

Foto 17 — John had his share of cleverness. He once dropped a bottle full of good oil, a treasure to poor people like the Boscos. It would be wrong to hide the evidence, so he admitted his fault, with a touch of shrewdness. His mother would certainly be angry. John hands her a rod to punish him with, but the blows never came…

Foto 18 — John was handy in the kitchen. This would be very useful for him later on, when he would have to prepare the soup for his youngsters.

Foto 19 — Two straw mattresses, four white-washed walls and a small crucifix. A much poorer room than the one at the Moglias. Here John and his brothers, Joseph and Anthony, slept, side by side.

Foto 20 — John had visions, but he did not believe in ghosts. When he was at his grandmother’s they heard noises in the attic. Perhaps it was a ghost?… All were afraid except John. He climbed up and found a hen. It had been pecking at some grain in a basket. The basket had overturned, and fallen over the hen, which was dragging it about over the floor.

Foto 21 — Like St. Francis, John loved birds. He had a blackbird, which he taught to sing. In spite of its cage, the cat caught it and ate it. This upset John, and caused him to make this resolution: “I will never again become attached to things of earth.” Rather a strange reflection for so young a boy. Was it a rash promise? And yet John did give his heart to things of earth, because man, created by God, is born and fives on earth; and he did this with God in mind.

Foto 22 — John had the talents of an acrobat and a magician, and he enjoyed a good show. When he went with his mother to the neighbouring fairs he would pay great attention to the acrobats and the tight-rope walkers so as to discover their secrets and then imitate them. When he got back home, he would practise hard, and would then amaze the country folk with his displays of balancing and magic.

Foto 23 — This spring called “ Renenta ” is the drinking trough to which John would take the cows of his brother Joseph, who had some land at Sussambrino

4. TEN YEARS OF TRIALS

Foto 24 — This is the road to school, from Becchi to Castelnuovo. John had to walk it twice a day, covering about thirteen miles.

Foto 25 — The country church of Murialdo, where the small John Bosco often served Mass for Don Calosso.

Foto 26 — Here, too, nothing has changed. In this sacristy at Murialdo, whilst Don Calosso was vesting for Mass, John would prepare the missal and the cruets.

Foto 27 — A rather modest money box, but it contained 6,000 lire, a considerable sum in those days. This would have paid for all John’s studies. This was Don Calosso’s idea. On his death-bed he gave John the key and said: “Everything you find there is yours. I put it on one side for your studies.” Don Calosso died and the heirs arrived on the scene … Without saying a word, John gave them the key.

Foto 28 — A view of Castelnuovo and its vineyards. In the distance one can see Becchi.

Foto 29 — The tower and the higher part of Castelnuovo, as seen from the belfry. Adjoining the tower is the shrine of the “Madonna of the Castle”, a place often frequented by John.

5. IN THE TOWN OF STUDIES: AT CHIERI

Foto 30 — The Dominican monastery at Chieri. Here, John did his studies.

Foto 31 — The Café Pianta. John was a waiter here. On the right, the courtyard and balcony. On the left, the staircase leading down to the cellar where he slept.

Foto 32 — The Café Pianta. John was a waiter here. On the right, the courtyard and balcony. On the left, the staircase leading down to the cellar where he slept.

Foto 33 — Panorama of Chieri from the tower of St. Dominic’s.

Foto 34 — One of John’s notebooks during his schooldays at Chieri.

Foto 35 — This little stream runs under the walls of Chieri. It was here that John made his challenge to an acrobat. It was a matter of jumping across the stream. With a tremendous leap, John won. He was quite accustomed to undertakings such as these. His strength and skill were those of an athlete.

6. HOLIDAY TIME

Foto 36 — Right from his youth John was very practical, and had good business sense. During the holidays, in exchange for the Latin lessons which the parish priest of Castelnuovo gave him, John would look after the priest’s horse. Here is the stable, in the priest’s yard, where John would groom the horse.

Foto 37 — Sussambrino. A small stretch of land between Becchi and Castelnuovo, rich in vineyards. After separating from Anthony, Mamma Margaret and Joseph had a small holding here. John used to spend his holidays here. In this scene we see Mombello, to the left, and Moncucco, to the right. Behind the hills is Cinzano, where John would often go to see his friend Aloysius Comollo, a school companion. In the background are the snow-capped Alps, which encircle Turin and Piedmont to the north.

Foto 38 — When he was eighteen years of age, John was confirmed on the 4th of August 1833 by the Archbishop of Sassari in the parish church of Buttigliera.

Foto 39 — The Confirmation Register at Buttigliera, where we find the name of John Bosco.

7. THE SEMINARY YEARS

Foto 40 — A narrow alley that leads to the chapel of St. George. Nearby is the Franciscan monastery of Peace, where John once thought of becoming a friar.

Foto 41 — The great stairway of the seminary at Chieri, seen from the dormitory. Shortly after his death, Aloysius Comollo, John’s great friend, appeared to John here.

Foto 42 — Chieri. The seminary chapel. The statue of the Immaculate Conception, by Ignatius Perucco, and the painting of St. Francis of Sales, by Enrico Reffo are shown here. Perhaps it was here that Don Bosco got the idea of taking the holy bishop of Geneva as his patron saint. In his honour, Don Bosco called his spiritual sons “ Salesians”.

Foto 43 — A beautiful sacristy. It serves both the seminary and the church of St. Philip. John Bosco, now a cleric, took on the job of sacristan to augment his income.

Foto 44 — The church of St. Anthony in the main square. Don Bosco often came here to pray or to listen to the catechism classes with the members of his “Cheerful group”.

Foto 45 — Mgr. Aloysius Fransoni, Archbishop of Turin. He ordained Don Bosco priest on the 6th of June 1841.

Foto 46 — Six official documents from the Archbishop’s office that concern Don Bosco:—the certificates of his reception of the clerical habit, tonsure, minor orders, dispensation from canonical intervals between Orders, priesthood, and permission to hear Confessions.

Foto 47 — The church of St. Francis of Assisi in Turin. The altar of the Guardian Angels, where Don Bosco said his First Mass.

8. DECEMBER EIGHTH: BARTHOLOMEW GARELLI

Foto 48 — Don Cafasso, teacher, adviser, friend, and benefactor of Don Bosco. This painting, by Reffo, is in the chapel of the Ecclesiastical College.

Foto 49 — Bell-tower of the church of Saint Francis of Assisi in Turin. The building on the right, with the arched windows, belongs to the Ecclesiastical College, which Don Bosco entered after his ordination. He spent three years there, from summer 1841 to October 1844.

Foto 50 — Don Bosco as a young priest. In this very old photograph he is wearing a French-type collar.

Foto 51 — The famous sacristy in the church of St.Francis of Assisi. The first Oratory was born here on the 8 th of December 1841. Don Bosco gave his first Catechism lesson to the poor, illiterate boy, Bartholomew Garelli. He was just one of the many young bricklayers who came to Turin in search of work. It was a revelation. Don Bosco discovered in those poor, homeless boys the path that God had marked out for him.

9. TRIBULATIONS AND THORNS

Foto 52 — The Hospice of St. Philomena in Turin. Don Bosco took up residence there in 1844. His room was on the top floor. In the background can be seen the “ Refuge ” for wayward girls. The small street opens on to Via Cottolengo. This was the first play-ground for Don Bosco’s boys.

Foto 53 — The Marchioness of Barolo. A noble lady and a devout Christian, kind but imperious. She was a benefactor of Don Bosco right at the beginning of his work, when he was chaplain at the “Refuge”. But the Saint had to move soon, because the Marchioness did not look with favour on his boys on account of all the noise they made. This painting of the Marchioness is seen in the Hospice of St. Philomena in Turin.

Foto 54 — Don Bosco as a young priest.

Foto 55 — The Hospice of St. Philomena, seen from the inner courtyard. On the right, behind the blocked-up windows is the staircase that leads to the upper floors. The open windows on the top floor belong to the dormitories; the closed window, next to them, belongs to the room occupied by Don Bosco.

Foto 56 — The mental hospital at Turin. Two priests wanted to take Don Bosco here, because they thought he was mad. His actions, his ambitious projects, his visions were a sure sign of madness … They hired a cab, and politely invited Don Bosco to go with them for a drive. Don Bosco sensed that there was a trap. He politely insisted that they should be the first to get into the cab; he then slammed the door, and told the coachman to drive off as fast as he could to where he was expected. So the two unfortunate priests finished up at the mental hospital. They had great difficulty in convincing the authorities there that they were sane, and the whole town roared at the way in which Don Bosco had, so neatly, turned the tables. The cab had been waiting for Don Bosco in the street seen on Plate 52.

Foto 57 — The City Hall of Turin. The monument was erected by King Charles Albert in 1853, in honour of Count Verde. Don Bosco was often summoned here to explain away the disturbances and annoyance his boys were causing the people of Turin. He always managed to get out of it very cleverly.

Foto 58 — St. Peter’s in Chains, in Turin. In the foreground is a weed-ridden waste, an abandoned cemetery. Don Bosco thought that he would be able to assemble his boys here, but they now numbered more than 400, and their games were very noisy, so much so that the priest’s housekeeper chased them away with a broom. This was on the 25 th of May 1845.

Foto 59 — Lease signed by Don Bosco and Francis Pinardi in 1846. The Saint rented some rooms and the courtyard for 575 lire a year. The sheet on the left shows the receipts for the years 1848-1851.

Foto 60 — The Madonna of Consolation. This was the first statue Don Bosco had in his Oratory. It is of papier mâché, and it cost him 25 lire.

Foto 61 — A painting of Mamma Margaret when she was 67 (1855). It was done by Rollini from a sketch by Bartholomew Bellisio. This portrait of his mother was given to Don Bosco on his feast-day, 24th of June 1855. When he saw it, the Saint exclaimed : “It is really her; only her voice is lacking.” The portrait is kept in the Don Bosco Museum in Turin.

Foto 62 — After Don Bosco’s recovery from a serious illness, Mamma Margaret left her home at Becchi and came to live with her son at Turin. It was the 3rd of November 1846. She brought with her her only treasures, a gold chain and a ring, humble valuables which she sold to buy bread for the boys of the Oratory.

10. IN THE TANGLE OF POLITICS

Foto 63 — King Charles Albert of Savoy. (Lithograph by Goldini, in the Royal Library in Turin.) Charles Albert admired and esteemed Don Bosco. When Don Bosco was summoned for the second time to appear before the mayor, Michael Cavour, he was afraid that his work would be condemned and forbidden. But the king saved him. In his own hand, he issued a decree which stated: “It is my wish that these gatherings be helped and protected.”

Foto 64 — City Hall Square, Turin. It is the evening of the 4th of March 1848. The crowd acclaims, with enthusiasm, the reading of the Statute. (Drawing from Mundo Illustrate, Museum of the Risorgimento, Turin.)

Foto 65 — Charles Albert abdicates in favour of his son, Victor Emmanuel II, on the 23 rd of March, on the battlefield at Novara. (Lithograph by F. Lerrin, Museum of the Risorgimento, Turin.)

Foto 66 — The young King, Victor Emmanuel II, son of Charles Albert. (Author unknown, about 1850. The Museum of the Risorgimento, Turin).

Foto 67 — Camillo Benso of Cavour (18101861). (Lithograph by L. Calamata, Royal Library of Madrid.) Leading spirit of the Italian Revolution, Count Cavour was a faithful friend of Don Bosco. The Saint wrote: “He often said to me that if ever I needed any-thing from him I would always find a place at his table.” Cavour himself said: “In my official capacity as a Minister, it is not always possible to speak with calm, but, at table … that is another matter.” And Don Bosco, who was at all times, and with everyone, a priest, thanked the illustrious statesman with these words: “I will pray for you, Mr. Minister, that God will help you always in life and at the hour of your death.” The future showed that the prayer of Don Bosco was heard.

Foto 68 — Vincent Gioberti (1801-1852). Promotor of a Federation of all the States of Italy under the sovereignty of the Pope. The idea aroused great enthusiasm and Gioberti reached the height of his popularity in 1848. But the first War of Independence ended in disaster and gave the death blow to the idea of a federation. Gioberti changed his ideas, and Don Bosco, who had called him “the great Gioberti” in 1848, now had fears that he might lose the faith.

Foto 69 — Robert d’Azeglio (1790-1862). He fought for freedom of religious worship to be extended to nonCatholic faiths. He was a good friend of Don Bosco, in spite of their widely differing views. When D’Azeglio criticised the saying of the Rosary by the boys of the Oratory, Don Bosco replied firmly: “I would prefer to give up your friendship rather than give up the Rosary.”

Foto 70 — Urban Rattazzi (1808-1873). Supported Cavour’s policy. A notorious anticlerical and well known as a priest-hater. Nevertheless, he had great esteem for Don Bosco, and even gave him advice when Don Bosco was founding the Salesian Society, at a time that was very inopportune for such a foundation. In 1855, when he was Home Secretary, he allowed Don Bosco to take the prisoners from the General Prison, by himself, out for a day in the country. This was the well-known and very successful hike to Stupinigi.

Foto 71 — Francis Crispi (1819-1901). A famous statesman. His left-wing politics did not stop him from helping Don Bosco. The Saint had been of assistance to him in setting himself up again in life when he was in exile. Later, he was Head of the Government in 1888, and he it was who had the idea of burying Don Bosco at Valsalice.

Foto 72 — The Pinardi House, seen from the rear. It was through the window, to the right of the picture, that an attempt was made on Don Bosco’s life. At the time of the attempt, Don Bosco was teaching catechism to his boys. This was in 1848.

Foto 73 — Weapons used in a series of attempts on the life of Don Bosco, pistols, knives, clubs, and poison. Almost all the attempts were instigated by anti-Catholic sects. He was attacked at night in dark streets; they baited traps by calling him out on false sick-calls, and fired upon him. None of the attempts succeeded. His courage, strength and intelligence saved him from these dangers.

Foto 74 — By good fortune, he found a friend, a strong dog which he called “ Grigio” because of its colour, grey. The dog showed up one day from nowhere, and jumped upon two assailants, who had thrown a cloak over Don Bosco, and were ready to club him to death. The dog put them to flight with its fierce bites, and then accompanied Don Bosco to the door of the Oratory. From that day on, he put in several appearances, but only when there was danger for Don Bosco. He never ate any of the tasty morsels Mamma Margaret offered him, nor would he climb the stairs leading to Don Bosco’s room. He just disappeared, and one day he disappeared completely, after several years of faithful service. No one ever knew anything at all about the dog.

Foto 75 — The anti-clerical newspapers attacked Don Bosco with articles and cartoons of a base and vulgar nature. His Oratory was presented as a factory of priests and bigots. The caption reads: “He catches birds with the net of charity and religion”, that is, with alms and bequests he gets the money necessary for his poor boys. An unpardonable crime.

Foto 76 — Another cartoon. Don Bosco’s enemies think they are victorious, believing that the Minister of Education had ordered Don Bosco to close his school; they hope to see him emigrating to America on a cloud, complete with weapons and baggage. A discreet reference to witches riding on a broom!

11. AT LAST A HOME

Foto 77 — The drinking well of the Pinardi house. This is all that remains of the old house.

Foto 78 — The church of St. Francis of Sales in Valdocco. This picture was taken from Don Bosco’s room. The Saint laid the first stone of the church in 1851. The church was finished eleven months later, but at the cost of incredible humiliations, begging, and petitions. For 17 years from 1851 till 1868 it was the centre of the religious activity of the Oratory. The young lad, St. Dominic Savio, prayed there, likewise the holy young gangleader Michael Magone, and Francis Besucco, the shepherd boy. Don Bosco’s body lay in state in this church, and more than 40,000 people passed before it. A small church, full of memories for all who love Don Bosco.

Foto 79 — The first statue of Mary, Help of Christians, venerated in Valdocco. Don Bosco often repeated: “ It is She who has done everything in my life.” He was the great promoter of devotion to the Help of Christians, and he left Her as a heritage to his spiritual sons and daughters.

Foto 80 — Don Bosco among his boys. The father of a family, surrounded by his sons.

12. HIS SALESIANS

Foto 81 — A note-book of Don Rua, wherein is described the founding of the Salesians: “On the night of the 26th of January 1854 we gathered in Don Bosco’s room. There were present Don Bosco, Rocchietti, Artiglia, Cagliero and Rua. It was proposed that we should make, with the help of God and St. Francis of Sales, a trial of the exercise of practical charity towards our neighbour, and then, if possible and convenient, to make a vow of it to God. From that evening the name ‘Salesian’ was given to those who proposed, or would propose, to undertake such a practice.”

Foto 82 — The house where Don Bosco lived. His room and office were on the second floor.

Foto 83 — Don Bosco in 1880, when he was 65. Strength and goodness are seen in his face. He is re-living the years which showed the success of his tireless toil (Photograph by Schemboche.)

Foto 84 — Some of Don Bosco’s clothing and personal articles. They are hanging on the hat-rack in his room. (Don Bosco Museum, Turin.)

Foto 85 — Six holy pictures bearing the signature “Father John Bosco”. On the first is written “The young are the delight of Jesus and Mary.”

Foto 86 — Waste-paper basket; inside can be seen a postcard from the Pontifical States. It was probably in such a basket that the police found an envelope bearing a Papal stamp when they came to search Don Bosco’s rooms at the order of Minister Farini. Its discovery increased their suspicions of Don Bosco. So, they thought, it was true that he was in correspondence with the Holy See! The document was not enough to compromise Don Bosco, but, from then on, he was kept under surveillance.

Foto 87 — The balcony in front of Don Bosco’s room. From there, he could watch his boys at their noisy games whenever he wanted.

Foto 88 — Don Bosco’s private altar, made in the shape of a cupboard. In 1879, whilst saying Mass, the Saint fell into an ecstasy. He was raised above the floor for some time. (Don Bosco Museum, Turin.)

Foto 89 — Don Bosco’s personal chalice. (Don Bosco Museum, Turin.) Holy Mass and frequent Communion were the basis of his pedagogical system. “The Holy Eucharist is the pillar on which the education of youth rests”, he used to say.

Foto 90 — The column of the “ Consolata ”. A monument erected in honour of Our Lady, through whose intercession Turin was freed from cholera in 1835. Turin was visited by the scourge again in 1854. Six out of every ten cases proved fatal. The Oratory was surrounded by houses in which many people lay dying. The corpses of the dead were so terribly disfigured that even their relatives refused to bury them. Don Bosco recruited forty of his boys to work in the area. They assisted the sick in the hospitals, brought out and buried the dead, and they were always ready to give a hand where they were most needed. They provided the sick with bed linen and gave them clothing; the Oratory was literally cleaned out of all spare clothing. The epidemic lasted for three months, and Don Bosco and his boys were on the job all the time. As Don Bosco had promised, not a single boy in the Oratory contracted the disease.

13. DON BOSCO THE EDUCATOR

Foto 91 — A contract of work. Don Bosco arranged this between Joseph Bartolini, a carpenter, and one of his young apprentices, Joseph Odasso. It bears the date of the 8th of February 1852. Even in those distant days Don Bosco had the idea of a contract between employer and apprentice, an idea later adopted universally. On the right of the plate is the first page of the contract. On the left is the last page with the signatures, amongst them is that of Don Bosco.

Foto 92 — The first picture of the “ Pinar di shed”, transformed by Don Bosco into his Oratory. Games play an important part in his “Preventive System”. One of his favourite expressions was: “Don’t wait for evil to happen; prevent it. Take part in the games with the boys. Don’t keep at a distance from them.”

Foto 93 — Play is good; work is necessary. Work forms the man if it is done with love. This photograph was taken in the present-day workshops in the Oratory at Turin. Apprentice carpenters at work.

Foto 94 — An apprentice tailor.

Foto 95 — An apprentice compositor. Don Bosco, later to be proclaimed patron of publishers, was a tireless worker with the pen. One of his watch-words was: “A press against the press.”

Foto 96 — An apprentice mechanic.

Foto 97 — As far as Don Bosco was concerned, piety was the basis of education. The plate shows a rather remarkable notebook written by the Saint in 1862. Against each boy’s name is a word of advice, adapted to the need of each one. These maxims were dictated to the Saint by Our Lady Herself. Each boy approached the Saint and took his own slip of paper. Some boys did not turn up for theirs. Some maxims still remain in the book, which later on served as a simple receipt book.

Foto 98 — Confession was quite clearly one of the most efficacious means used by Don Bosco in the education of his boys. It was the source which produced the most profund and immediate individual education. When starting the task of beginning a boy’s education Don Bosco would say to him: “Go to Confession.” The picture shows Don Bosco hearing the confession of young Paul Albera, who was his second successor as head of the Salesian Society. It also shows that Don Bosco heard Confessions in public.

Foto 99 — The “Good-night”.Every night, before going to bed, Don Bosco would gather his boys around him, and after they had said their night prayers he would say a few words to them. In the picture we see the place where Don Bosco usually gave his “Good-night”.

14. A HARD-WON VICTORY

Foto 100 — Don Bosco’s passport to go to Milan in 1850. At that time Milan was under Austrian rule, hence, for a Piedmontese, to go there was like going abroad. In the passport Don Bosco declares his profession to be that of a teacher in an elementary school. (Don Bosco Museum.)

Foto 101 — View of Rome taken from the “Torre delle Milizie”. Everything is dominated by the cupola of St. Peter’s. At that time, Rome was still the capital of the Pontifical States.

Foto 102 — A Medal of Pius IX. It was cast in the fourth year of his reign, 1850. He reigned, as a sovereign, over many provinces of Italy.

Foto 103 — Minutes of the founding of the Salesian Society, written in an ordinary note-book. However, it bears witness to a difficult victory achieved by Don Bosco at Rome after many years of strenuous effort. The Congregation which he was given per-mission to found was to become a gigantic enterprise. (Salesian archives.)

15. THE BELOVED DISCIPLE

Foto 104 — “ Good day, Father I ” This was the greeting given Don Bosco by his fellow villagers when he went with his boys for a few days rest to the farm of his brother, Joseph, at Becchi.

Foto 105 — The house Joseph built close to the house in which they were born. The bearded man is Francis Bosco, one of Joseph’s sons. This photo was taken in 1892.

Foto 106 — During the summer holidays Don Bosco would try his hand again at carpentry. He made this confessional, which is to be seen in the private chapel in Joseph’s house. Joseph very willingly put his home at the disposal of his brother during the summer.

Foto 107 — The “ Life of Dominic Savio ”, Don Bosco’s favourite pupil. The first edition, written by Don Bosco, came out two years after Dominic’s death.

Foto 108 — Mondonio, two and a half miles from Castelnuovo. Dominic died here on the 9th of March 1857. Pius XII canonised him on the 12th of June 1954.

16. WRITER AND PUBLISHER

Foto 109 — Don Bosco published about 150 books and pamphlets. Here are some of them. The early ones were printed by Speirani, Paravia and Agostini, but from 1862 they came from his own press, The Press of the Oratory of St. Francis of Sales.

Foto 110 — Desk, letter balance, inkwell, pen rack and oil lamp used by Don Bosco. These articles are still kept in Don Bosco’s room. Don Bosco spent many a long night at this desk.

Foto 111 — Don Bosco seated at his desk. The room served both as an office and a bedroom. Over the window is a plaque on which is inscribed his motto: “Da mihi animas, caetera toile”, that is, “Give me souls, take away the rest.”

Foto 112 — Some of the more important of Don Bosco’s books. Amongst them is a History of Italy. Don Bosco was proclaimed Patron of Catholic Publishers on the 24th of May 1946.

Foto 113 — A letter from one of the Consuitors of the Holy Office. It con-demns his book “ The 20th Centenary of St.Peter the Apostle”. The book narrowly escaped being put on the Index. In this letter from Rome (lines 7 and 8) it speaks of a grave mistake in theological matters. On page 192 Don Bosco had said that St. Peter’s presence in Rome was “a historical discussion extraneous to faith.” The Saint immediately corrected this passage in the next edition, and thus avoided the condemnation. But the incident caused him great displeasure and a deep sorrow.

17. THE ORATORY IS A BEEHIVE

Foto 114 — The courtyard of the Oratory today. The boys and teachers play together, just as in the days of Don Bosco. Noisy, active games are traditional in every Salesian School.

Foto 115 — Greetings from one of the boys of the Oratory to his “dearly loved father, Don Bosco”.

Foto 116 — Don Bosco with the musicians of the Oratory. Don Bosco said that a house without music is like a body without a soul.

Foto 117 — Don Bosco composed plays and educational dialogues which were often produced at the Oratory.

Foto 118 — “ Mary, Help of Christians, help me!” An ejaculation written at the end of one of the Saint’s letters. During his lifetime, this prayer was as constant as his breath. He invoked Our Lady in all his difficulties.

Foto 119 — It is 1864. Don Bosco employs Buzzetti to build the Basilica of Mary, Help of Christians at Valdocco. How much money did he have for this great enterprise? He had it all in a small purse which he emptied into the hands of the builder: 40 cents! The miracle is that the builder agreed to start the job. Once again Don Bosco had recourse to his well-used lotteries, begging tours, and, above all, an immense faith in Our Lady. When the work was finished Don Bosco said: “Every brick in this church is a grace from Our Lady.” The church, begun in 1863, was consecrated on the 8th of June 1868.

Foto 120 — The Basilica of Mary, Help of Christians today. The monument in front of the church was erected to Don Bosco in 1920 by past pupils from all over the world.

Foto 121 — How many obstacles Don Bosco had to overcome before his Rule for the Salesian Society was approved by Rome! He went there in 1874 to plead his case. The letter, here reproduced, was written to the Salesians in Turin on the 25 th of March 1874 between the first and second meetings of the Pontifical Commission. It forecasts a favourable decision. Don Bosco writes: “Rejoice! The first meeting went off well … wait patiently for whatever the Lord will decide for us …”

Foto 122 — Immediately after the approval, the Rules were printed in their definitive form. The plate shows one of the first proofs, with corrections made by Don Bosco in his own hand (1874)

Foto 123 — Immediately after the approval, the Rules were printed in their definitive form. The plate shows one of the first proofs, with corrections made by Don Bosco in his own hand (1874).

Foto 124 — Mgr. Lawrence Gastaldi, archbishop of Turin (1815-1883). He put many obstacles in Don Bosco’s path. (Archbishop’s House, Turin.)

18. THE SECOND AND THIRD SALESIAN FAMILY

Foto 125 — Part of a letter written by Mary Mazzarello, first Superior General of the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians. It was written to Sister Pierina Marassi in Turin: “Viva Gesù’ ! My dearest Sister Pierina and all the Sisters, are you all happy?”

Foto 126 — Mother Mary Dominic Mazzarello (1837-1881), is seated in the centre, holding the hand of Sister Josephine Pacotto, on the occasion of the departure of the second group of nuns to Uruguay and the Argentine, 1st of January 1879.

Foto 127 — The first house of the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians at Mornese, a small village between Alexandria and Genoa. A very old photograph.

Foto 128 — A Daughter of Mary, Help of Christians at Nizza Monferrato. Mother Mazzarello died in this house in 1881.

Foto 129 — A workshop, an important activity of the nuns. The photo shows a dress-making class at Lyons, France.

Foto 130 — Teaching is the chief work of Don Bosco’s Sisters. This is the girls’ school at Nizza Monferrato.

Foto 131 — Don Bosco’s Third Family is that of the Co-operators. Here is a group of Co-operators paying a visit to the tomb of Don Bosco in Valsalice, Turin, in 1890.

Foto 132 — The Salesian Bulletin, the first year, 1877, Nos. 1, 2 and 4. Don Bosco founded this periodical to keep in touch with his Co-operators throughout the world. It met with great success, and is continually growing. Today it is published in 16 languages and has 32 editions, with a total of one million copies. It is a bond of Salesian union between the Salesians and their friends throughout the world.

Foto 133 — Don Bosco’s desk. The globe was in constant use by Don Bosco, working out his world-wide plans. Looking at it, he was able to see his missionaries set foot in South America, and, from there, spread to other parts of the world.

19. THE SALESIAN MISSIONS

Foto 134 — Don Bosco with his first group of missionaries before their departure from Valdocco in 1875. Seated next to him is the Argentinian consul, Comm. Gazzolo.

Foto 135 — The twelfth group of missionaries to leave Valdocco. They were the last to leave during Don Bosco’s life. This was in 1887.

Foto 136 — Fr. John Cagliero. He led the first group of missionaries, and later became a bishop and then a Cardinal. With him is Zeferino Namuncura’ (1886-1905), son of a powerful chief in Patagonia. Zeferino died in Rome with the reputation of holiness. The Salesians gained the respect and confidence of the tribes and their leaders on account of their tireless work for the spiritual and material good of the natives. This is the reason for the great success of their missionary work.

Foto 137 — Valdocco today. A constant stream of supplies finds its way from here to the missions. Turin is still the headquarters of this work.

20. PIUS IX AND LEO XIII LOVED HIM

Foto 138 — St.Peter’s Basilica at Rome. Don Bosco went to Rome twenty times.

Foto 139 — Pius IX. This photograph belonged to Don Bosco. The Saint, friend and confidant of Pius IX and Leo XIII, recommended, in a special way, to his Sons and Daughters, obedience and fidelity to the successor of St. Peter.

Foto 140 — Don Bosco in 1887, the year before he died. (Photo: Luzzati, Genoa.)

Foto 141 — The First Vatican Council (18th July 1870). The Council Fathers gathered in the lateral nave of St. Peter’s Basilica. The dogma of Papal Infallibility, of which Don Bosco was an ardent champion, is being proclaimed. Pius IX is seated at the throne. The drawing is by G. Altobelli, who made use of photographs of these who were present.

Foto 142 — The first draft of the letter of congratulations which Don Bosco sent to the new Pope, Leo XIII. He was elected on the 22nd of February 1878.

Foto 143 — A silver medallion of Leo XIII, the worker’s Pope, so dear to Don Bosco.

Foto 144 — The Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Rome. It was built by Don Bosco at the request of Leo XIII, and opened on the 14th of May 1887, eight months before the death of the Saint.

Foto 145 — Pius X, when he was Bishop of Mantua. (Photo: Ferrari, Treviso.) Whilst still a Canon, he visited the Oratory in 1875. Don Bosco could offer him only a very meagre meal, so much so that the future Pope had to call in a nearby restaurant for another meal when he left the Oratory.

Foto 146 — Pius XI. As a young priest, Fr. Ratti took great interest in the young and particularly in the work done by Don Bosco in Turin. He visited the Oratory in 1883, when librarian of the Ambrosian at Milan. He proclaimed Don Bosco Blessed in 1929, and canonised him in 1934.

21. PARIS AND BARCELONA

Foto 147 — Church of the “Madeleine” at Paris. Don Bosco’s journey to the French capital was a veritable triumph.

Foto 148 — Don Bosco at the villa Marti-Codolar, whilst on a visit to Barcelona in 1886. Leaning over his chair is Don Rua, his first successor as Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation.

Foto 149 — A decoration received by Don Bosco at Barcelona. The inscription reads: “Al rev.do Don Juan Bosco, miembro de honor y mérito de la Asociación de católicos de Barcelona, 15 de abril 1886.”

Foto 150 — Mount Tibidabo, near Barcelona, at the end of last century. There is a very modest chapel at the summit.

Foto 151 — Mount Tibidabo today. In one of his dreams, Don Bosco saw this summit crowned with a magnificent Sanctuary. The church, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was opened in 1961. It is entrusted to the care of the Salesians.

Foto 152 — One of the last photographs taken of Don Bosco. He is tired and worn out by sickness and the rigours of his journey to Barcelona.

22. HIS DEPARTURE FROM THIS WORLD

Foto 153 — Sofa and reading desk. Don Bosco spent the last few months of his life on this sofa. Here he rested, prayed and worked. His swollen legs would scarcely let him walk. His tired eyes made reading impossible. He spent his time dictating to his secretary, recalling the early days of the Oratory.

Foto 154 — Bedside locker and articles used by Don Bosco. The bottle of water which was there when he died was sealed, and is kept in the Don Bosco Museum.

Foto 155 — The bed in which Don Bosco died. The sheets and blankets are kept in the wardrobe of the relics. Don Bosco had to use the small steps to get in and out of bed when his legs gave him trouble.

Foto 156 — Don Bosco’s body was placed in the corridor outside his rooms. He was clothed in his priestly vestments, and a ceaseless throng of the faithful came to pay their last tribute. This photograph was taken on the very day of his death, 31st of January 1888. The crucifix and the armchair are still to be seen in the corridor outside his room.

Foto 157 — Don Bosco’s body was placed in the corridor outside his rooms. He was clothed in his priestly vestments, and a ceaseless throng of the faithful came to pay their last tribute. This photograph was taken on the very day of his death, 31st of January 1888. The crucifix and the armchair are still to be seen in the corridor outside his room.

Foto 158 — The crucifix which Don Bosco held in his hands during his last agony.

Foto 159 — The coffin in which Don Bosco’s body lay till his beatification in 1929.

Foto 160 — Valsalice. Don Bosco’s body rested in this Salesian School, founded by himself on the hill outside Turin, from 1888 till 1929.

23. THE ROAD TO GLORY

Foto 161 — The first monument to Don Bosco. It was erected in 1898 on the little square at Castelnuovo d’Asti by his fellow-villagers. Later on, they changed the name of the village to Castelnuovo Don Bosco.

Foto 162 — On the 3rd of June 1929, Pius XI proclaimed Don Bosco “Blessed”. The plate on the right shows the Pope, kneeling in prayer before an image of the new Blessed. The plate on the left shows the body of Don Bosco being brought in triumph from Valsalice to Valdocco on the 9th of June 1929, accompanied by an immense crowd, praying and singing hymns through the streets of Turin.

Foto 163 — On the 3rd of June 1929, Pius XI proclaimed Don Bosco “Blessed”. The plate on the right shows the Pope, kneeling in prayer before an image of the new Blessed. The plate on the left shows the body of Don Bosco being brought in triumph from Valsalice to Valdocco on the 9th of June 1929, accompanied by an immense crowd, praying and singing hymns through the streets of Turin.

Foto 164 — Easter Sunday 1934 saw the supreme glorification of Don Bosco. Pius XI proclaimed him a Saint. It was the 1st of April. The plate shows the Pope entering the Basilica of St. Peter. The square is crowded with pilgrims from all over the world.

Foto 165 — Today the mortal remains of Don Bosco rest over the altar dedicated to him in the Basilica of Mary, Help of Christians, in Turin.

Foto 166 — Don Bosco’s body, as it is now seen in its glass coffin.

Foto 167 — The poor peasant boy of Becchi is today venerated in St. Peter’s Basilica amongst the founders of Religious Congregations. His statue, by Canonica, has the place of honour, over the ancient statue of St. Peter and the picture of Pius IX, his protector and friend. A curious and almost unbelievable fact, for once, Don Bosco saw himself, in a dream, in the very spot now occupied by his statue.