The Nostalgic Beginnings of Salesians of Don Bosco
Don Bosco with Mr. Rattazzi
The years 1848-1852, the years of the liberal revolution and of the First War of Independence and its aftermath, were critical for Don Bosco. Following Archbishop Fransoni’s leadership and the example of Father Cafasso and other priests, he had taken a thoroughly conservative position with deep emotional involvement on the side of the Church’s cause, in opposition to the more liberal patriotic priests, several of the oratory priests among them. The rift was now fully revealed and it involved coworkers (priests and laymen) as well as older oratory lads. Sponsored efforts to bring the parties together failed. Don Bosco maintained his autonomy but lost the support of some close associates. Archbishop Fransoni seemed to have favored Don Bosco and officially appointed him Spiritual-Director-in-Chief of the three oratories by decree of March 31, 1852. This action gave Don Bosco and the oratories a place within the archdiocesan structure, though outside the established parish structure.
As he sought to make the work permanent, at one point he may have considered attaching the oratories to some existing religious institute, such as Rosmini’s Institute of Charity, provided he be allowed to continue the work he had begun. Finally, perhaps encouraged by Archbishop Fransoni’s decree, he opted for a third way—to look among his boys, for his helpers. Thus in 1852, Don Bosco sought “to bring together a group of young men, who had been publicly and privately engaged in many charitable activities, and enjoyed the esteem of all classes of people.” On January 26, 1854, according to Father Rua’s written testimony, Don Bosco picked four young men for a trial: Joseph Rocchietti, James Artiglia, Michael Rua and John Cagliero. He invited them to begin, with the help of God and of St. Francis de Sales, in an experiment in the practical exercise of charity toward neighbour, in order eventually to make a promise and later, if possible and appropriate, a vow of it to the Lord. From that evening the name Salesians was given to those who chose and would in the future choose to engage in such an exercise”
The Idea of a Religious Society
On the evening of January 26, 1854, Don Bosco gathered in his room four persons. Present were Don Bosco, Joseph Rocchietti, James and a student John Baptist Francesia. These (and perhaps a few others) made up the group that began to live at the Casa Annessa under the regulations in force at the time and under Don Bosco’s direction. They had made a commitment to the exercise of charity toward neighbour, for this was the vow or promise they made—not the vow of obedience, poverty and chastity.
It is only around 1857, after meeting the Minister Rattazzi, that the idea of a religious society that would be accepted by the civil society really dawned on the mind of Don Bosco. Don Bosco would credit Rattazzi with making the Salesian Society possible. However, he never states that Rattazzi suggested a religious congregation of any kind. The illumination received from Rattazzi’s words had to do with the viability of a religious association that would have the same legal basis as a secular association of individual free citizens banded together for a lawful purpose. But, Don Bosco hoped that this religious association would also qualify as a religious congregation in the eyes of the Church. However, Don Bosco’s discussion of his plan with Pope Pius IX in 1858 started a process which ultimately brought the Salesian Society well, if not squarely, within the traditional model for a religious congregation.
