Great saint, great manager
Fr Francesco MOTTO It is not easy to choose, from the hundreds of unpublished letters of Don...
Don Bosco
Third missionary dream: air travel (1885)
St John Bosco Don Bosco’s dream on the eve of the missionaries’ departure for America is an event...
The path of roses
P. Stefano MARTOGLIO “‘Oh, how Don Bosco always walks on roses! He goes forward calmly; all things go...
Wonders of the Mother of God invoked under the title of Mary Help of Christians (11/13)
(continuation from previous article) Appendix I. Ancient custom of consecrating churches Once a church has...
The second missionary dream: across America (1883)
Don Bosco told this dream on September 4, at the morning session of the...
The Snake nd the Rosary (1862)
Part I At the “Good Night” on August 20, 1862, Don Bosco, after giving some...
Wonders of the Mother of God invoked under the title of Mary Help of Christians (10/13)
(continuation from previous article) Chapter XIX. Funds by which this Church was built. Those who...
First missionary dream: Patagonia (1872)
Here is the dream that saw Don Bosco decide to start the missionary apostolate...
An interesting court case at Valdocco
A letter to the magistrate of the City of Turin dated 18 April 1865 opens...
Young people making the novena to the Nativity of Mary well (1868)
Don Bosco’s dream of 2 September 1868 This is how Don Bosco spoke in...
The Dream of the Elephant (1863)
Unable to give the strenna to his pupils on the last day of the year,...
Wonders of the Mother of God invoked under the title of Mary Help of Christians (9/13)
(continuation from previous article) Chapter XVII. Continuation and completion of the building. It seems that...
Where was Don Bosco born?
P. Natale CERRATO On the first anniversary of Don Bosco’s death his Past Pupils wanted to continue...
A pergola of roses (1847)
Don Bosco’s dreams are gifts from on high to guide, warn, correct, encourage. Some of...
The Flood and the Life-saving Raft (1886)
No one can save themselves from the fury of the waters in great floods. Everyone...
Wonders of the Mother of God invoked under the title of Mary Help of Christians (8/13)
(continuation from previous article) Chapter XV. Devotion and plans for a church to Mary Help...
Exhibition for the 200th anniversary of Don Bosco’s dream
BSOL Editor Dialogue between past, present and future: temporary exhibition for the 200th anniversary of Don Bosco’s...
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...
The letter from Rome (1884)
In 1884, while in Rome, a few days before returning to Turin, Don Bosco had...
The dream at 9 years of age
The series of Don Bosco’s ‘dreams’ begins with the one he had at the age...
Wonders of the Mother of God invoked under the title of Mary Help of Christians (7/13)
(continuation from previous article) Chapter XIII. Institution of the Feast of Mary Help of Christians. ...
Don Bosco’s educational journey (2/2)
(continuation from previous article) The market for young workers The historical time in which Don...
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’s educational journey (1/2)
Following the paths of the heart Don Bosco wept at the sight of the boys...
Don Bosco and Italian
Piedmont in the early 19th century was still a peripheral area compared to the...
The dream of the two columns
Among Don Bosco’s dreams, one of the best known is the one known as the...
Wonders of the Mother of God invoked under the title of Mary Help of Christians (6/13)
(continuation from previous article) Chapter 9. Battle of Lepanto. Having thus expounded some of the...
Dream of the Ten Diamonds
One of Don Bosco’s most famous dreams was the one called the “Dream of the...
Wonders of the Mother of God invoked under the title of Mary Help of Christians (5/13)
(continuation from previous article) Chapter 7. Mary favours those who work for the faith; while...
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...
Wonders of the Mother of God invoked under the title of Mary Help of Christians (4/13)
(continuation from previous article) Chapter V. Devotion of the early Christians to the Blessed Virgin...
Do holy water, blessings, and other sacramentals still have value?
We are witnessing today an indifference or contempt for sacramentals. Blessings on people, water, religious...
Wonders of the Mother of God invoked under the title of Mary Help of Christians (3/13)
(continuation from previous article) Chapter III. Mary manifests her zeal and power with her son...
Being lovable like Don Bosco (2/2)
Fr Bruno FERRERO (continuation from previous article) 5) Being authenticIn the digital age, authentic people are very important....
The prophecies of Don Bosco and the kings of Italy
“The family of those who steal from God does not reach the fourth generation.” The...
Being lovable like Don Bosco (1/2)
Being lovable is a human quality that is cultivated, accepting the effort that it so...
Message at the end of the 42nd Salesian Spirituality Days
To my dearest Family My dearest sons and daughters, The dream that makes you dream....
Giuseppe Buzzetti, from migrant to first Salesian brother
Teresio BOSCO He was one of the many young migrants in 19th century Turin. He had the...
Don Bosco’s last will and testament
With a will, as we know, someone disposes of their belongings for the time...
The dream at 9 years of age. Genesis of a vocation
The 9-year-old’s dream presented in ten points, the genesis of a heavenly vocation, confirmed by...
Don Bosco’s nine-year dream. Theological – spiritual nuclei
A commentary on the theological-spiritual themes present in the nine-year dream could have such...
Wonders of the Mother of God invoked under the title of Mary Help of Christians (2/13)
(continuation from previous article) Chapter II. Mary shown to be the help of Christians by...
Strenna 2024. “The dream that makes you dream”
Ángel Card. FERNÁNDEZ ARTIME A heart that transforms “wolves” into “lambs” During my service as Rector Major I have...
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...
A year of dreams from above
Dear friends: we are on the threshold of a new year, 2024, a very special...
Wonders of the Mother of God invoked under the title of Mary Help of Christians (1/13)
In 1868 St John Bosco printed a publication entitled ‘Wonders of the Mother of God...
“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...
Have you thought about your vocation? St Francis de Sales could help you (10/10)
(continuation from previous article) 10. Shall we plan?As a young student, Francis de Sales (he...
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...
Have you thought about your vocation? St Francis de Sales could help you (9/10)
(continuation from previous article) 9. Let us come to the pointDear young people,if we look...
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...
Have you thought about your vocation? St Francis de Sales could help you (8/10)
(continuation from previous article) 8. Prayer or serviceDear young people,charity and prayer always go together....
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...
Have you thought about your vocation? St Francis de Sales could help you (7/10)
(continuation from previous article) 7. Who finds a friend…?Dear young people,the gift and responsibility of...
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:...
Memoirs of the future
We have a dream. And it is our greatest wealth Two hundred years ago, a...
Have you thought about your vocation? St Francis de Sales could help you (6/10)
(continuation from previous article) 6. All is well at homeDear young people,“I think that, in...
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...
Have you thought about your vocation? St Francis de Sales could help you (5/10)
(continuation from previous article) 5. After all, can I do it alone?Dear young people,I have...
Souls and horsepower
Don Bosco wrote at night by candlelight, after a day spent in prayer, talks, meetings,...
Have you thought about your vocation? St Francis de Sales could help you (4/10)
(continuation from previous article) 4. Where is your heartDear young people,you have written to me...
Have you thought about your vocation? St Francis de Sales could help you (3/10)
(continuation from previous article) 3. If I do not know myself, can I be free...
Have you thought about your vocation? St Francis de Sales could help you (2/10)
(continuation from previous article) 2. What to do tomorrowDear young people,you are certainly asking yourselves:...
Don Bosco and his date of birth
The archives speak of 16 August: but there is a curious and affectionate interpretation. The...
Have you thought about your vocation? St Francis de Sales could help you (1/10)
“It is not by the greatness of our deeds that we will please God, but...
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. A Hail Mary at the end of Holy Mass
St John Bosco’s devotion to Our Lady is well known. The graces received from Mary...
Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Rome
In the twilight of his life, obeying a wish of Pope Leo XIII, Don Bosco...
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...
The story of the construction of the Church of Mary Help of Christians (3/3)
(continuation from previous article) Always in actionBut Providence must also be “sought”. And in August...
The story of the construction of the Church of Mary Help of Christians (2/3)
(continuation from previous article) The LotteryThe authorisation was granted very quickly, so the complex machine...
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...
The story of the construction of the Church of Mary Help of Christians (1/3)
“Our Lady did it all”, we are used to reading in Salesian spiritual literature, to...
Biographical Memoirs of St John Bosco
To get to know Don Bosco and his work, recourse to the sources is essential....
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...