The Venerable Don Bosco, the Apostle of Youth/Chapter XIV
CHAPTER XIV
THE SALESIAN SCHOOLS. DON BOSCO PERSECUTED. TESTIMONIALS OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
In 1858 Don Bosco had visited Rome and laid all his projects for his Oratory of St. Francis of Sales before Pope Pius IX, who held him in the highest esteem and willingly conferred upon him many privileges. The progress of the Salesian Institutions of Turin had now become assured, and Don Bosco was constantly in receipt of applications from bishops near and far. His great industrial schools, comprising all the trades and some of the arts, had obtained a national repute. There were to be found among his artisans, shoemakers, tailors, joiners, blacksmiths, plumbers and printers. "The Salesian Professional Schools are veritable training-grounds of conscience and character, and at the same time excellent schools supplied with all that is best in modern inventions of tools and machinery, so that nothing may be wanting to the pupils in that progress of which modern industry is so justly proud."
We have already described, although very imperfectly, Don Bosco's comprehensive system of education and its noble results. Artists, too, and architects were discovered among these waifs, and their talents developed. Music, the first, the most beloved, and the most universal of the arts, was one of the great factors of Don Bosco in the renewal and enlightenment of these young souls. Himself a musician with an insuperable devotion to the sacred harmonies of the Church, he made choral singing, from the first, a beautiful and attractive feature of the Oratory: all were able to sing, and some superb voices were found among these minstrels of the South, so that with training they became leaders in the liturgical functions. Talent for instrumental music, too, the natural heritage of the Italian, was fostered, and a band was a sine qua non of every Oratory.
The war of 1859 caused Don Bosco much trouble and anxiety. Known to be a correspondent of Pius IX—whose answer to his own letter of condolence he had printed—and of Cardinal Antonelli and Archbishop Franzoni, he was denounced as a conspirator, and his Institute condemned as a hotbed of reactionary politics. Subjected by the government to an insidious and insulting inspection of his schools, his dignity and firmness under the ordeal rose to admiration. And still more magnificent was his attitude when he appeared before Count de Cavour, president of the council, and Farini, minister of the interior, to repel the charges against him and to hand over to them the hundreds of poor boys of his Oratories to be a burden on the state. He openly censured the government agents, and his arguments in defense of the Church, of the Pope, and of his own line of conduct, were unanswerable.
"I have lived twenty years in Turin and have written, spoken and acted openly; I defy anyone to quote a line, a word, an action, which deserves censure from the government. If otherwise, let proof be given: then, if guilty, I submit to punishment; but, if innocent, let me be permitted to continue my labors without annoyance." Count de Cavour, who had listened with respect, for he was friendly to Don Bosco, assured him in the end that his work would be left unmolested, but exhorted him to prudence in those trying times, and as the priest retired both ministers rose and shook hands with him. Many orphans made by the battles of Magenta and Solferino found shelter in the Oratory, where they were received with open arms.
The Government Deputy Ellero writes: "Scarcely any reading has so profoundly impressed me as that of the few notes left by Don Bosco on the subject of education…… notes which owe their immense value to the fact that their author was not an idealistic dreamer, but rather an idealist full of reality, the animating spirit of a marvellous human work which few thoroughly understood, and in regard to whom, that impartial and generous spirit Cesare Lombroso had no hesitation in assigning one of the first places among the few who have attempted, initiated, and efficaciously evolved a national system of correction and rehabilitation." Another testimonial of profound appreciation is from the pen of Count Conestabile, and presents the apostolic Father and teacher in all the charm of daily life:
"One day when I went to visit Don Bosco I found him at his desk reading a paper on which several names were written. 'Here,' he remarked, are some of my little rogues, whose conduct is not satisfactory.' At that time I was but imperfectly acquainted with Don Bosco's methods, and I asked him if he had any punishment in reserve for those naughty boys.
"'None at all, he replied, 'but this is what I am going to do. This one, for instance (pointing to one of the names), is the worst little rascal, though he has an excellent heart. I will go to him during the time of recreation and ask after his health; and he, doubtless, will answer that it is excellent. Then you are quite satisfied with yourself, my boy? I shall say. At first he will be somewhat surprised, then he will cast down his eyes and look ashamed. In an affectionate tone I shall insist: But, my child, something is wrong; if your body is in health, perhaps your mind is not at peace. Is it long since you were at Confession? In a few minutes the boy will be ready to confess his fault; and I am almost sure I shall have no more complaints of him.'
"I listened in silence, conquered by the charm and the sweetness of these apostolic words. I had discovered the secret of the great works this humble priest had successfully accomplished. Many times since, when the sight of the evils of our time filled my heart with bitter sadness, that priestly voice came back to me and gave me hope for the future of a society to whom God sends such reformers."