History of Salesians of Don Bosco

 

The Development of the Oratory
Don Bosco began his work with “the poor and abandoned” young people of Turin in 1841.  In his memoirs he describes how crowds of boys would follow him in the streets and squares of the city, and even into the sacristy of the church attached to the institute where he was undertaking post-ordination studies.  Don Bosco would gather those street kids for recreation, religious instruction, Mass and prayer.  He was hampered for many years by lack of a permanent place to base his work.  It was not until 1846 that he secured the ‘Pinardi Shed’ and an adjoining field in the Valdocco district of Turin where he established the Oratory of St Francis de Sales.

As the oratory developed over a period of time, Don Bosco had to give more structure to its operations – this included buildings and facilities, organisation structure and regulations for community living.  Don Bosco himself has left us a number of different accounts of the historical and institutional evolution of the oratory, beginning with the original gathering on Sundays and holy days, then going on to the progressive introduction of classes on Sunday, evening school during the week, weekday classes, the establishment of a home at the oratory for a resident community of students and workers, and the gradual establishment of an in-house secondary school offering the full five-year secondary curriculum, and over ten years or so, in-house workshops in shoemaking, tailoring, bookbinding, joining, printing and metalwork.

Twenty years after its establishment, the Oratory of St Francis de Sales was a very large and successful establishment with 600 boarders, a few hundred day boys, and even greater numbers on Sundays and holy days.  Part of Don Bosco’s genius was that even in the midst of increasing institutionalisation, he was able to maintain the sense of familiarity, confidence and trust with the students and empower his ever increasing number of co-workers to relate to others in a similar fashion.

 

The Formation of the Salesians
By 1852 Don Bosco has been charged by the Archbishop Fransoni of Turin with responsibility for three Oratories in the city – his own and two others that already existed.  Don Bosco’s work was expanding and helpers were attracted to him – including a number of seminarians.  At this stage the Oratories are under the direction of Don Bosco, but relied completely on the authority of the Archbishop.  This situation frustrated Don Bosco, who needed to ensure his own independence if his grand dreams and bold plans for future expansion were to be ever realised.

Over the years Don Bosco had cultivated the leadership abilities of many of his older boys.  They would assist with catechism classes, recreation, night classes, games and outings.  He came to rely upon them and would gather them regularly to develop their leadership skills, personal qualities and religious imagination, inviting them to “stay with Don Bosco”. 

 

On the evening of January 26, 1854, just before the feast of St Francis de Sales, who was Don Bosco’s patron and after whom the Oratory was named.  Michael Rua, a student at the Oratory who would eventually become the first successor of Don Bosco, recalls that decisive moment when he and his companions took the next step:
“Don Bosco suggested that, with the help of the Lord and St Francis de Sales, we first test ourselves by performing good deeds for our neighbours, then bind ourselves by a promise and later, if it should prove possible and desirable, make a formal vow to God.  As of that evening, those who agreed – or would later agree – were called Salesians.”

A little over 12 months later (25 March, 1855) Michael Rua, just 18 years old and already studying for the priesthood, made a private vow before Don Bosco.  As the years past other young students did the same thing.  Don Bosco had a strong band of assistants and helpers, now he had a group who were also prepared to spiritually commit themselves to him in a deeper and more permanent manner.  He was beginning to gather around him those who would be able to continue his spirit and his mission.  However, this situation was only possible with the approval of the Diocesan authorities, upon whom everything still depended.  In the meantime Don Bosco was quietly preparing the regulations for the religious congregation he would eventually establish.

 

The Influence of Rattazzi
Urban Rattazzi was a senior member of the Piedmontese government with a reputation as a reformer and a keen interest in the penal code, especially in regard to young offenders.  He was also responsible for the introduction of the 1855 Law of Suppression, which “abolished as moral bodies, recognised by civil law, all those houses belonging to religious orders not engaged in preaching, education, or nursing the sick.” 

Rattazzi took a keen interest in Don Bosco’s work, and believed that the Government was obliged to protect such works, because they operated very efficiently to lessen the prison population and to produce intelligent and moral citizens. In fact, he himself set a good example in this regard. He encouraged Don Bosco in his work, made grants, recommended the admission of young people, and even entrusted a young cousin, Cesere Rattazzi, to Don Bosco.

One day in 1854 Rattazzi even came to the Oratory incognito to introduce himself to Don Bosco – the two engaged in a discussion for more than an hour.  In 1857 Don Bosco was received in audience by Rattazzi, who was concerned for the work of the Oratories and their future.  Rattazzi is said to have made the following remark: “if you take my advice … you should choose some layfolk and clerics whom you trust, unite them within an organised society, fill them you your spirit, and train them in your system, so that they may become not only your helpers but also the ones who will continue your work after your departure.”

This was unexpected advice, given Rattazzi’s record.  Don Bosco was surprised, but also encouraged.  He realised that it was possible to found a congregation that would be regarded by the state merely as an ‘association of free citizens united and living together for the sake of charity.’

 

The Development of the Salesian Congregation
Having received the go-ahead from Rattazzi, encouraged by Archbishop Fransoni, and supported by several friends, Don Bosco left for Rome, and in March 1858 he presented to Pope Pius IX a draft of the Constitutions of the Society of St Francis de Sales.  The Pope was favourably disposed to the idea of a congregation in which each member would be a religious in the eyes of the Church and a free citizen in the eyes of the State. 

On December 9 1859, Don Bosco first spoke to his small group of ‘Salesians’ about the idea of formally establishing a religious congregation, explaining how he had been encouraged by the Pope to pursue the idea.  Don Bosco explained the implications and gave them a week to think about it.  There was much consternation and it became evident that Don Bosco’s decision to proceed carefully and slowly was well justified.  There were complaints that Don Bosco wanted to make monks out of them.

Nevertheless, the desire to remain with Don Bosco won over the majority.  The famous example was John Cagliero, who would one day lead the first Salesian missionary expedition to Argentina, be the first Salesian bishop and eventually be a cardinal.  A dynamic character with strong opinions he was thrown into turmoil.  Cagliero paced up and down the courtyard, a prey to mixed emotions.  Finally, he made his decision and exclaimed: “Monk or not, I’m staying with Don Bosco.”  Such was his affection for Don Bosco.

The following week, on the evening of 13 December, the ‘conference of approval’ took place and only two were missing.  The names of the first 18 Salesians are contained in the minutes of that meeting.  Don Bosco was elected Superior by unanimous vote and a council was established to the ongoing governance of the Society of St Francis de Sales.

It was a long and difficult road, however, to gain final approval from Rome.  Don Bosco’s ideas were so radical at the time that many of them were rejected in place of more traditional approaches to religious congregations.  Don Bosco fought for many of his ideas.  Some were eventually accepted.  Others were not.  There were multiple drafts of the Constitutions.  The process continued for almost 15 years and final approval was eventually granted in 1874.

 

Expansion before 1888
The work of the Salesians expanded quickly, first in Italy and then beyond.  In 1875 the first Salesian House outside Italy was opened in Nice, France.  In the same year the first Salesian missionary expedition departed for South America.  By the time that Don Bosco died in 1888 there were 773 Salesians, eleven missionary expeditions had been commissioned, there were almost 150 Salesian missionaries in South America, and the work of the Salesians had already expanded to Argentina (1875), Uruguay (1876), Spain (1881), Brazil (1882), Austria (1887) and England (1887). 

 

Expansion, Consolidation
Don Bosco’s successor, Fr Michael Rua, oversaw the consolidation of the Salesian congregation, a steady increase in numbers (more than 4,000 by the time of his death in 1910), a continued expansion of works in Europe and South America, and the beginnings of works in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

World War 1 (1914 – 18) severely disrupted the growth and operation of the Salesians, especially in Europe.  Almost 2,000 Salesians were conscripted and there were instances when they were on opposing sides and fighting against each other.  Many schools were converted to military barracks or hospitals.  The Rector Major between 1910 – 1921 was Fr Paul Albera.  He held the congregation together by writing monthly to the conscripted Salesians, ensuring a spirit of solidarity with those affected by the war and emphasising the spiritual development of the Salesians.

The vitality of the Salesians were revived after the war and many new and difficult mission territories were accepted in Central Africa, Brazil, China, Paraguay and Assam.  Works were also established in new countries including Hungary, Germany and Cuba.

The post-war expansion continued under the leadership of Fr Philip Rinaldi (Rector Major 1922 – 1931).  The number of Salesians rose from 6,000 to 10,000 and more than 250 new works were opened in a variety of countries, including Australia (1923).  Like his predecessors, Fr Rinaldi inherited the missionary spirit of Don Bosco and he actively promoted the Salesian’s missionary work, which expanded in south and central America and spread to India, Japan and Thailand.

Trying Times of War and Persecution
World War II was as disastrous for the Salesians as it was for the whole world.  The Rector Major at the time, Fr Ricaldone, wrote: “With heavy hearts and great distress we look upon the ruin of hundreds of houses, the destruction of many works that have been achieved at the cost of immense sacrifice, the disperson, and even the death of so very many confreres who were caught up in this appalling disaster.”  As the ravages of the war increased even the Oratory in Turin was damaged.

On many occasions the Salesians have been affected by religious persecution.  This was not an entirely new experience: in 1896 the Salesians had been driven out of Ecuador; in 1901 they suffered greatly in France due to new laws restricting members of religious congregations; and in 1910 the Salesians had been expelled from Portugal.  During the Spanish Civil War (1936 – 39) the Salesian suffered greatly from the persecution of the Church including the death of 97 Salesians and the imprisonment of 350.  More than 90 Polish Salesians died in German concentration camps during World War II.  Many others were executed by Nazi soldiers or killed because of hostilities.

After World War II, the Communist persecution of the Church Europe brought immense suffering to the Salesians of Central and Eastern Europe and forced most of the Salesian works to be closed.  Hundreds of Salesians experienced direct persecution, often resulting in imprisonment or death.  Many Lithuanian Salesians were deported to Siberia or shot.  In Czechoslovakia (as it was at the time) all Salesian houses were confiscated by the government.  On the night of 14 April 1950 300 Salesians and 30 novices were arrested and sent to labour camps.  Similar stories about of the experiences of Salesians in Poland, Hungary, East Germany, Ukraine and Russia.  Only Yugoslavia, with a more liberal communist regime, escaped the worst of the communist persecution.  Here the Salesians were permitted to continue parish ministry, and priestly vocations flourished.

The Salesians had experienced persecution in China before the World War II.  On 25 February 1930, Bishop Louis Versiglia and Fr Callisto Caravario were martyred for their faith by a band of communist-inspired pirates.  They were canonised saints by Pope John Paul II in 2000.  However, from 1949 onwards the persecution became increasingly more intense, so much so that Salesian work on mainland China came to a complete standstill.  In 1949 there were 300 Salesian missionaries in China, about one third of them Chinese.  European Salesians were expelled from the country, and Salesian works were progressively confiscated by the government.  While some were able to flee from the mainland to Hong Kong and Macau, numerous Salesians were denounced, beaten, or sent to prison, where many of them died.  The expulsion from mainland China paradoxically freed Salesians to concentrate with renewed energy on their works in Hong Kong and Macau, to expand their works to the Philippines (which has flourished) and to return to Timor, from where they had been expelled in 1929. 

The persecution of the Salesians in Vietnam was no less fierce, where the war between the North and the South caused great suffering.  However the Salesians were able to continue to operate within severe restrictions and, amidst great difficulty, often clandestinely.

 

Vatican II
Despite the trials and sufferings of war and persecution, the Salesians re-organised and expanded after World War II.  In 1950 there were close to 15,000 Salesians working in more than 1,000 houses.  By 1965 there were in excess of 20,000 Salesians throughout the world.

The renewal of the life of the Church initiated by the Second Vatican Council had a deep impact upon the Salesian congregation.  Like all religious institutes the Salesians were encouraged to return to the spirit of their founder, and to re-interpret that spirit in the light of the contemporary situation.  This process of renewal led to a greater emphasis upon understanding the person and spirit of Don Bosco, a re-focusing of efforts to work with young people who are poor, disadvantaged or marginalised, a highlighting of the uniqueness of the “Preventive System”, the typically Salesian way of working with the young, and a renewal of the Salesians’ missionary spirit.

 

Recent Developments
In 1988, on the 100th anniversary of the death of Don Bosco, the Salesians officially launched ‘Project Africa’, which aimed to increase the Salesian presence and work in Africa and to bring the spirit of Don Bosco and the uniquely Salesian method of evangelising and educating to the young people of Africa.  In 1973, there were 330 Salesians in 52 works in 13 countries. By 2005, the number had risen to 1,145 Salesians in 171 houses in 42 countries.

The collapse of communism in Central and Eastern Europe, symbolised by the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989, has enabled a renewal of Salesian activity throughout the former communist nations.  In 1990, the informal works that had continued in countries in former Soviet Union was once again make official.  This had led to an expansion of works in countries including Belorussia, Georgia, Russia and Ukraine.  The Salesians returned to Albania in 1992 and opened new works in Bulgaria (1994) and Bosnia-Herzegovina (1995).

Missionary efforts have also intensified in Asia and Oceania.  Since 1980 the Salesians have opened works in Papua New Guinea (1981), Samoa (1981), Indonesia (1985), Cambodia (1994), Solomon Islands (1995), Nepal (1995), Fiji (1998), Pakistan (1999), Mongolia (2001) and Kuwait (2001).