Getting to know Don Bosco (17). Giuseppe Buzzetti
Fr Bruno FERRERO Joseph Buzzetti, a young bricklayer captivated by Don Bosco, was among the first and most...
Don Bosco
The preventive system (7/7). The retrospective look. The exposition of the Biographical Memoirs
BSOL Editor We continue with the seventh and final instalment on the main texts of Don Bosco’s...
The preventive system (6/7). To a formator of priests. The reply to the rector of the Seminary of Montpellier, Dupuy
We continue with the sixth instalment on the main texts of Don Bosco’s preventive system....
The preventive system (5/7). Invitation to read the book by Alberto DU BOYS, “Don Bosco and the Pious Salesian Society”
We continue with the fifth instalment on the main texts of Don Bosco’s preventive system....
The preventive system (4/7). The letter to the Minister of the Interior Francis Crispi
We continue with the fourth instalment on the main texts of Don Bosco’s preventive system....
The preventive system (3/7). Appendix to the Inauguration of the Patronage of St. Peter in Nice
We continue with the third instalment on the main texts of Don Bosco’s preventive system....
The preventive system (2/7). The dialogue with the teacher Francesco Bodrato
We continue with the second instalment on the main texts of Don Bosco’s preventive system....
The preventive system (1/7). The conversation with the Minister of the Interior Urbano Rattazzi
Introduction to the series on the main texts of the preventive system A method...
Getting to know Don Bosco (16). Giovanni Cagliero
The story of John Cagliero begins in 1851 when, as a young boy, he asked...
Don Bosco’s surname
P. Natale CERRATO A surname can tell a story, evoke a place, and even become a source of...
We get to know Don Bosco (15). The definitive choice for the poor
At the most critical moment of the origins of the Oratory, Don Bosco finds himself...
Don Bosco in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican
On 31 January 1936, the Vatican Basilica welcomed the monument to St John Bosco. A...
Four name days in ten days
Fr Francesco MOTTO And what name days! Don Bosco never forgot the name-day of religious authorities and benefactors,...
Let us get to know Don Bosco (14). The Marchioness of Barolo
Giulietta Colbert di Barolo, a French noblewoman marked by exile and by profound family trials,...
The Leisure of Don Bosco
The concept of “doing nothing” didn’t exist in Don Bosco’s mind, not even when he...
Getting to know Don Bosco (13). The theologian Giovanni Borel
Anonymous, Portrait of Don Giovanni Borel (1801–1873), late 19th century, tempera on copper, 37.5 ×...
Don Bosco and Saints Joachim and Anne
Saints Joachim and Anne, oil on canvas by Guido Guidi, 1914. Basilica of the Sacred...
Don Bosco and the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel
On 16 July, the Church celebrates the memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount...
Get to know Don Bosco (12). Saint Joseph Cafasso
Saint Joseph Cafasso, Piero Dalle Ceste (1938), above the altar dedicated to him in the...
Don Bosco and the devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus
The relic of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, kept behind the altar of the...
We know Don Bosco (11). I saw the holiness and humanity of Don Bosco
Giovanni Battista Bertagna was born in Castelnuovo d’Asti on 26 October 1828. He graduated in...
Mary … Mary … Mary Peter and Paul (1884)
Teresio BOSCO El Greco, Saint Peter and Saint Paul, 1595-1600, oil on canvas, Museu Nacional d’Art de...
24 June, the feast of the Rector Major
For over a century and a half, on the day of the Nativity of St...
Get to know Don Bosco (10). Don Bosco at the crossroads
The vocational discernment of John Bosco, initially attracted to the Franciscan religious life as a...
The “Little” Priest of Valdocco
Over time, there has been no shortage of caricatures and superficial judgments about Don Giovanni...
Get to know Don Bosco (9). A loving father
Don Bosco was able to win over poor young people not only because of his...
Getting to know Don Bosco (8). The spirit of Saint Francis de Sales
Between Don Bosco’s Oratory and Saint Francis de Sales, there was a bond that progressively...
Getting to know Don Bosco (7). Don Bosco’s eyes
The story of Don Bosco’s eyes reveals a surprising and deeply human trait of the...
Getting to know Don Bosco (6). A will of steel and a heart of gold
Don Bosco’s personality was the result of a blend between his impulsive, fiery nature and...
Don Bosco’s Invitation to Confession
Confession holds a central place in the life and mission of Saint John Bosco. For...
Don Bosco and Saint Joseph
P. Wirth MORAND Among the saints most venerated by Don Bosco, Saint Joseph holds a place of special...
Getting to know Don Bosco (5). “I was always in his company” Giorgio Moglia, farmer
Cascina Moglia, where Giovanni Bosco lived for about two years. Giorgio Moglia testified at...
Getting to know Don Bosco (4). Black bread swapped for white bread
We present the testimony of Don Secondo Marchisio, a Salesian priest, which was gathered during...
Getting to know Don Bosco (3). Don Bosco’s brothers
Young Giovanni’s relationships with his two brothers were very different. Antonio, his difficult half-brother who...
Don Bosco and Pope Pius IX
Don Bosco was profoundly faithful to the Church and to Pope Pius IX, whom he...
Getting to know Don Bosco (2). Margherita, Christian Mother and Educator
The fountain of Mamma Margaret at the foot of Don Bosco Hill (1960s) Young...
“Everything for you… until my last breath”
The room where Don Bosco actually breathed his last (Valdocco, Turin) “It costs me...
And who is Don Bosco?
To understand Don Bosco, one must perhaps consider contrasting judgements, the voices of the Church,...
Don Bosco: publicist, not journalist
When speaking of Don Bosco and his relationship with the press, a misunderstanding can arise....
Novena to Saint John Bosco
Saint John Bosco, apostle of the young and father of the orphaned, continues to be...
Getting to know Don Bosco (1). The family’s economic situation
We are launching a new column titled “Knowing Don Bosco”. Conceived by the Salesian Fr....
Don Bosco in a stagecoach
How far and how did the Saint of Youth travel? Let us retrace these paths....
Don Bosco and the Name of Jesus
In the spirituality of Saint John Bosco, the Name of Jesus was not a mere...
Christmas with Don Bosco and his boys
At the beginning of the Christmas novena in December 1859, Don Bosco offered the young...
Don Bosco and the good press: a rediscovered letter
The discovery of an unpublished letter from Don Bosco always offers an opportunity to shed...
The Salesian Bulletin. It is not just another magazine
It is distributed all over the world in dozens of different languages. Certainly it has...
Letter from Nizza Monferrato
An apparently simple letter, yet rich in spiritual and educational meaning: this is what Don...
A grace obtained, a missed votive offering, an indelible memory
Every unpublished document generally contains something new. Well, the documents we are presenting here not...
Lotteries: real feats
Don Bosco was not only a tireless educator and pastor of souls, but also a...
Don Bosco with his Salesians
If Don Bosco happily joked with his boys to see them cheerful and serene, he...
The festive oratory at Valdocco
In 1935, following the canonisation of Don Bosco in 1934, the Salesians took care to...
Visiting Rome with Don Bosco. Chronicle of his first trip to Rome
St John Bosco The first time Don Bosco went to Rome was in 1858, from February 18 to...
Don Bosco’s devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Don Bosco’s devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus originated from the revelations to Saint...
Don Bosco and the Sacred Heart. Protect, atone, love
In 1886, on the eve of the consecration of the new Basilica of the Sacred...
Don Bosco and Eucharistic processions
A little-known but important aspect of St John Bosco’s charism is Eucharistic processions. For the...
Don Bosco promoter of “divine mercy”
As a very young priest, Don Bosco published a booklet, in tiny format, entitled “Exercise...
Social inclusion according to Don Bosco
Don Bosco’s far-sighted proposal for the ‘unaccompanied minors’ of Rome. The history of the church...
The Vicar of the Rector Major. Don Stefano Martoglio
We have the joy of announcing that Don Stefano Martoglio has been re-elected as Vicar...
Rectors Major of the Salesian Congregation
The Salesian Congregation, founded in 1859 by Saint John Bosco, has had at its head...
Don Bosco and music
For the education of his youngsters Don Bosco made much use of music. Even...
Great saint, great manager
It is not easy to choose, from the hundreds of unpublished letters of Don...
An interesting court case at Valdocco
A letter to the magistrate of the City of Turin dated 18 April 1865 opens...
Where was Don Bosco born?
On the first anniversary of Don Bosco’s death his Past Pupils wanted to continue...
How to find the resources to build a church
A secret to be foundIt is well known that Don Bosco’s reputation for getting things...
Don Bosco and the Consolata
The oldest pillar in the Becchi area appears to date back to 1700. It...
Edmond Obrecht. I had lunch with a saint
In the biography of a famous abbot, the emotion of meeting Don Bosco. Today it...
Don Bosco and Italian
Piedmont in the early 19th century was still a peripheral area compared to the...
Dream of the Ten Diamonds
One of Don Bosco’s most famous dreams was the one called the “Dream of the...
Don Bosco, politics and the social question
Did Don Bosco do politics? Yes, but not in the immediate sense of the word....
What are the requirements for entering the Salesian Society
In various parts of the world the time is approaching when some young people, attracted...
Being lovable like Don Bosco (2/2)
(continuation from previous article) 5) Being authenticIn the digital age, authentic people are very important....
Being lovable like Don Bosco (1/2)
Being lovable is a human quality that is cultivated, accepting the effort that it so...
Don Bosco’s last will and testament
With a will, as we know, someone disposes of their belongings for the time...
Don Bosco and ecumenical dialogue
Ecumenism is a movement that arose at the beginning of the 20th century among...
Don Bosco and animals
Did Don Bosco love animals? Are they present in his life? And what relationship did...
“It was like heaven”. The first Christmas Mass at Valdocco
The first Christmas Mass celebrated by Don Bosco at Valdocco was in 1846. After obtaining...
The Exercise for a Happy Death in Don Bosco’s educational experience (5/5)
P. Aldo GIRAUDO (continuation from previous article) 4. Conclusion In the epilogue of Francis Besucco’s life, Don Bosco...
The Exercise for a Happy Death in Don Bosco’s educational experience (4/5)
(continuation from previous article) 3. Death as a moment of joyful encounter with God Like...
Don Bosco and his mother
The 150th anniversary of Don Bosco’s birth was commemorated in 1965. Among the conferences...
The Exercise for a Happy Death in Don Bosco’s educational experience (3/5)
(continuation from previous article) 2. The litany for a happy death in the context of...
The Exercise for a Happy Death in Don Bosco’s educational experience (2/5)
(continuation from previous article) 1. The exercise for a happy death in Salesian institutions and...
The Exercise for a Happy Death in Don Bosco’s educational experience (1/5)
The annual All Souls Day commemoration presents us with reality that no one can deny:...
Don Bosco’s wandering books
In a circular letter Don Bosco wrote in July 1885: “The good book even enters...
Don Bosco and the marenghi
In 1849, the printer G. B. Paravia published Il sistema metrico decimale ridotto a...
Souls and horsepower
Don Bosco wrote at night by candlelight, after a day spent in prayer, talks, meetings,...
Don Bosco and his date of birth
The archives speak of 16 August: but there is a curious and affectionate interpretation. The...
Don Bosco and door-to-door waste collection
Who would have thought it? Don Bosco as an early ecologist? Don Bosco pioneering door-to-door...
Don Bosco’s gaze
But who would believe it? Don Bosco’s ‘vision’ was such that he… saw so many...
Fr Giulio Barberis and his “Cronichetta”: day by day at Valdocco with Don Bosco
On 21 February 1875 some Salesians decided to set up an “historical commission” to “collect...
Don Bosco to Fr Orione: We will always be friends
Saint Louis Orione: “My most beautiful years were those spent in the Salesian Oratory.” An...
Don Bosco’s benefactors
Doing good for the young requires not only dedication but also huge material and financial...
Biographical Memoirs of St John Bosco
To get to know Don Bosco and his work, recourse to the sources is essential....
The Italian Lira from 1861 to 2001 and 2022. The currency in Don Bosco’s time
The Italian Lira, with its subdivisions into 100 centimes, was the official currency of Italy...
Don Bosco and his daily crosses
Don Bosco’s life had much suffering but he bore it all with heroic humility and...
Don Bosco, la Salette, Lourdes
In the month that recalls the apparitions at Lourdes for us, we take the opportunity...
Bullying. A new thing? It was also around in Don Bosco’s time
It is certainly no mystery for those who know the “living reality” of Valdocco, so...
Don Bosco and the Bible
In a chapter of the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation promulgated by the Second Vatican...