cenni

Cenni storici or Historical Outlines Don Bosco The Historical Outlines (Cenni storici) The idea of the Oratories came from frequenting the prisons in this
city.[1] In these places of spiritual and temporal misery, we found many
young lads in the bloom of youth; clever, good-hearted and able to be the
consolation of their families and an honour to their country but instead
they were locked up there, coarsened, made the opprobrium of society.
Giving careful thought to the reasons for this misfortune, one came to
understand that in most cases they were unfortunate more for lack of
education than wickedness.[2] One could note also that little by little
they could be led to appreciate their dignity as human beings, that they
could reason, and that they must earn their bread in life through honest
effort and not by stealing. In other words as soon as their minds were
enlightened by a moral and religious principle they began to feel something
good in their hearts which they could not explain but which made them want
to be better people. In fact many changed their behaviour while still in
the prison, while others when released lived in such a way that they would
not end up there again. So we had confirmation that these young men were unfortunate for want of
religious and moral instruction and that these two educational means were
ones that together could [3] keep good boys good and lead the unruly ones
to make wise judgement when they were released from these places of
punishment. As a trial, some appropriate catechetical programs were begun in the
prisons around the capital and a little later in the sacristy of the church
of St Francis of Assisi. And thus the Sunday gatherings began. Boys released from prison were invited as well as others who we found and
collected here and there in the streets and squares and workshops during
the week. Moral and religious stories, hymns, small gifts, some games were
the lure we used to deal with them on Sundays and other holy days.
Throughout 1841 on average around seventy boys [4] attended. With great
satisfaction the oratory continued at St Francis of Assisi for three years,
until the extraordinary number of boys forced us to choose a larger place.
Then in 1844 Don Bosco, for reasons of Church employment, had joined the
administration of the pious work of the Refuge in Valdocco. There a
suitable place was selected and on 8 December 1844 the first chapel
destined exclusively for the young people was blessed. This chapel
consisted of two rooms next to the building used by the two priests who
were running the aforesaid work of the Refuge. The Oratory lasted a year
here.[5] In autumn 1845, because of the growing number of boys, a number that often
exceeded two hundred, the building which up until then had served as a
chapel was now to be used for something else, so it was necessary to seek a
more appropriate place. For about four months[6] we went to St Martin's[7]
near the city Mills but finished there to give way to another catechism
program for young people.[8] St Peter's in Chains cenotaph, the Moretta
House, an enclosure belonging to the Filippi house served as an Oratory up
until spring 1846.[9] That year we rented and then bought the Pinardi house in the Valdocco
district, and this is where the Oratory of St Francis de Sales arose. The
number of boys grew such that in 1850 it often went beyond two and also
three thousand. With a view to providing for this need, in 1851 the current church was put
up and that was done with help from the Lotteries of items and other
private donations. The Oratory of St Aloysius [10] at Porta Nuova. In 1847, seeing that such a
huge number of boys could no longer be contained in the Oratory of St
Francis de Sales,[11] another was opened at Porta Nuova between dei
Plantini and Valentino street. Administration of this was entrusted to Fr
Giacinto Carpano, [12] and then was passed on to others. Currently Fr
Leonardo Murialdo[13] it is zealous director. The average number of boys is
around 500.[14] The Guardian Angel Oratory. The extraordinary number of boys coming to the
Oratory at Porta Nuova soon made us realise that another site was needed
where the greatest need was felt. Vanchiglia[15] is a heavily populated
part of Turin and full of youngsters who just wander about on Sundays and
holy days. The worthy Fr Cocchi[16] had already opened an oratory there but
had to abandon it due to other things he had to do. So in the same place
with an an almost identical purpose, in 1849 we reopened the Guardian Angel
Oratory there, near the Po. Administration was entrusted to Fr Robert
Murialdo,[17] but since his health is currently up and down it has been
entrusted to Fr Michael Rua.[18] The average number presently attending
this Oratory is around four hundred. General observations. We could call these Oratories places aimed at dealing
with youngsters at risk on Sundays and other holy days by offering them
pleasant and honest recreation after they have attended the church
services. So as well as the churches there are enclosures that are large
enough for recreation and other suitable places for lessons and to bring
the pupils under cover during bad weather in the cold season and when it
rains. Ways of attracting them to come are: small prizes, games and a kind
welcome. Medals, holy pictures, fruit, something to eat or a snack;
sometimes a pair of socks, shoes or other clothing item for the poorest
ones; finding them work, [19] going to see their families or their
employers. The games are: bocce (bowls), piastrelle (throwing discs),
stilts, see-saws of various kinds, leap-frog, gymnastics, military
exercises, singing, concerts with instruments and vocals. But what attracts
the youngsters most is the kind welcome they receive. Long experience has
made us understand [20] that the good result of education of the young
consists especially in knowing how to make oneself loved so that one can
then be feared. The religious services on Sundays and other holy days are as follows: Mass
followed by a story from the bible or Church history, or an explanation of
the Gospel of the day; then recreation. After midday catechism in classes,
vespers, a brief instruction from the pulpit, Benediction and then followed
by the usual recreation. Once religious services are over everyone is free
to stay and play or to go home. Once night falls we send everyone home and
the Oratory is closed. There is a set of rules guiding everything in church, recreation and
school. Those taking part are priests, clerics and some good citizens who
help out with everything. During Lent, in all three places there is
catechism each day at midday [21] for those who are not free at other times
during the day. We even celebrate Mary's month with a sermon or spiritual
reading, rosary and Benediction at sunrise or at the time in the evening
when we say the Hail Mary, according to circumstances. People taking the most active part at the beginning of the Oratory have
been, as well as those already mentioned, Frs Ponte, Trivero, Pacchiotti,
and John Vola. Of particular help has been the worthy Fr John Borelli. [22]
He has been the soul and support of things exercising his priestly ministry
and in material and moral help. Also Cav. Baricco has taken part several
times.[23] Sunday schools.[24] Many youngsters, either through want of means or
facilities are already moving on in years but have not had the necessary
instruction for learning trade. During the week they were not able to
attend school of any kind, so this need suggested Sunday schools. We
started these in 1845. It seemed difficult at the beginning given that
there were no books or people to give advice or direction. We had school, we taught things but during the week, what had been taught
and learned on Sundays was mostly forgotten. Just the same we mostly
overcame this serious obstacle by taking just one area of study at a time
and having just one lesson to be learned through the week. This way we
succeeded in getting them to learn how to read and write and then the four
arithmetical operations, and then the elements of the metric system,
Italian grammar and Bible history, but without ever passing on to something
new if what we already had in hand was not yet well understood.[25] Public
performances that were offered satisfied important personages who honoured
us with their presence, amongst which Fr Aporti, [26] the City Mayor, Cav.
Bellono and Cav. Fr Baricco. Evening schools. Amongst the multitude of boys who came another need
appeared, since although the Sunday classes produced good results,
nevertheless it was not sufficient for many. So we began to invite them to
come during the week on days and at times that were most convenient for the
pupils. One boy encouraged another and in a short while it was considered
appropriate to set a fixed time and this was in the evening, just when the
working boys had finished their day's work. In 1846 [27] the evening classes began for the first time. Attendance was
extraordinary to the point where we had to limit ourselves to the number of
pupils we could physically take in the squeezed circumstances. Since
evening schools were then opened by the city administration in many parts
of the city it was not necessary to offer them in the other oratories. They
continue until the present only in the Oratory of St Francis de Sales. The
subjects taught are: Reading, writing, the metric system, Italian,
plainchant, vocal music, instrumental music and some drawing, pianoforte,
organ and also French.[28] Day school during the week. Another type of boy can be found on the loose
wandering the city and these are the ones who are either very poorly
dressed or since they cannot settle down to discipline are not accepted in
the public schools or are expelled from them. For the most part they are
either orphaned or neglected by their parents even at a