Biographical Memoirs Saint John Bosco
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The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco by Rev. Eugenio Ceria, S.D.B. AN AMERICAN EDITION TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL ITALIAN Volume XIX 1888-1938 SALESIANA PUBLISHERS New Rochelle, New York 2003 POTEST: Very Rev. Patrick Angelucci, S.D.B. Provincial New Rochelle, NY 25 March 2003 Solemnity of the Annunciation Copyright © 2003 by the Salesian Society, Inc. Library of Congress Catalog Number 65-3104 rev. ISBN 0-89944-019-3 All Rights Reserved. Manufactured in the United States of America FIRST EDITION Elthiratth WITH PROFOUND GRATITUDE TO THE LATE, LAMENTED, AND HIGHLY ESTEEMED VERY REVEREND FELIX J. PENNA, S.D.B. (1904-1962) TO WHOSE WISDOM, FORESIGHT, AND NOBLE SALESIAN HEART THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO IS A LASTING MONUMENT this votucne is bcbic&c€b TO THE MEMORY OF MY PARENTS: DELFINA ANTONUTTI AND PAOLO ZULIANI. THEY HELPED ME DISCOVER GOD'S PLAN IN MY LIFE. THEY BLESSED ME WHEN, AS A CHILD, I LEFT BEAUTIFUL FRIULI IN 1938 FOR PIEDMONT; THEY BLESSED ME WHEN AS A YOUNG MAN I LEFT ITALY IN 1949 FOR THE USA; THEY HELPED ME LOVE AND FOLLOW DON BOSCO AS A SALESIAN PRIEST. FOREVER GRATEFUL FR. VINCENT VINICIO ALDO ZULIANI, S.D.B. ix Contents Introduction ............................................................................................... xi Preface ....................................................................................................... xiii Chapter 1 (Epicedia) Funeral Eulogies ................................................... 1 Chapter 2 How the Ordinary Process Began for Don Bosco's Beatification and Canonization ........ 21 Chapter 3 From the Ordinary Process in Turin to the Roman Decree That Declared Don Bosco Venerable ............................................................................ 33 Chapter 4 From the Apostolic Process to the Decree on the Heroicity of Don Bosco ............ 51 Chapter 5 The Miracles for Don Bosco's Beatification ...................... 73 Chapter 6 The "Tuto" Decree ................................................................ 95 Chapter 7 The Solemn Identification of Don Bosco's Body . 106 Chapter 8 Don Bosco's Beatification in Rome ................................. 117 Chapter 9 The Transferral of Don Bosco's Body ............................ 153 Chapter 10 Echoes of the Beatification in the Words of the Holy Father, Pius XI .................. 182 Chapter 11 The Cause Is Resumed ..................................................... 204 Chapter 12 The "Tuto" and the Consistories .................................... 220 Chapter 13 The Canonization ............................................................ 237 Chapter 14 Events That Occurred in Rome After the Canonization ................................................. 263 Chapter 15 Echoes of the Canonization in the Pronouncements of the Pope............................ 286 Chapter 16 The Feast of Don. Bosco's Canonization in Turin . 300 Chapter 17 Some Particular Celebrations in Honor of Don Bosco, the Saint .............................. 316 Chapter 18 The Fiftieth Anniversary of Don Bosco's Death ......... 343 Appendix of Documents ..................................................................... 361 Index 432 xi I NUROb UtCri ON Volume XIX of the Biographical Memoirs does not deal directly with the sayings and deeds of Don Bosco, but rather, with the sayings and deeds of several people on and about Don Bosco. The sworn statements on Don Bosco's heroic virtues are awe-inspiring. The identical detailed information on how the beatification and canonization of Don Bosco came about, as well the celebrations connected with both, is not only interesting, but, most of all, is edifying and uplifting. The message conveyed by the entire volume is to the point: WE NEED NOT BASK IN THE SUNSHINE OF DON BOSCO'S GLORY BUT, RATHER, MOVE ON ALONG THE TRAIL BLAZED BY DON BOSCO'S ENTERPRISING SPIRIT. The speeches found in this volume and delivered, on several occasions by so many people on behalf of Don Bosco, could be 'literally' translated, as someone would have expected, to give them their original flavor. This is the reason for this (as someone might say) 'welcome' departure. A translator is often called upon to divide words, to combine them, to drop some of them or to rearrange them, only to make sure that the original meaning is adhered to. Many of the Italian speeches of this volume are characterized by having one main clause with an unending series of dependent clauses that obscure the very meaning they try to convey. I have done my best to cut some of these unending dependent clauses and reduce them to something more understandable and simple. I have to confess that this task has not been easy and I have not been always successful. I beg to be forgiven! All languages follow different rules. This is the reason why there cannot be word-for-word translations, except in rare cases. I have been confronted with situations where I had to make a decision on how to use different words and different sentences to convey the original meaning desired by the speaker. I hope to have been successful. However, people more knowledgeable than I am, when called upon to compare the English version vs. the Italian text, will find some lacunae. Also for this, I'd like to be forgiven. The basic meaning has been kept! xii Introduction But all in all, the reader of this volume will come to know how much Don Bosco was admired, praised, venerated and prayed to, by so many people, the world over. May the tributes given to Don Bosco become an inspiration for all of us to follow his footsteps and 'forge ahead . always at the vanguard of progress!' Sincere thanks to Mrs. Jo Ann Donahue for her computer work, to Fr. Francisco Javier Aracil, SDB, editor and head of Salesiana Publishers of New Rochelle, N.Y. Fr. Vincent Vinicio Aldo Zuliani, SDB xi;; iirriart This volume is more for posterity than for my contemporaries, most of whom more or less, witnessed a great many of the events herein narrated, or were adequately informed about them by the press. The events related to Don Bosco's Cause of Beatification, the festivities connected with it, the triumph of his Canonization, are still vivid recollections in the minds and hearts of us all. Even the circumstances, which distinguished the celebrations of the fiftieth anniversary of his death are fairly well known. Yet it was thought both fitting and advisable that the main events and more outstanding features that, for half a century, contributed to enhance Don Bosco's glory, be incorporated in a volume for those who are to come after us. We still love to call our Hero by that simple name—Don Bosco—just as we used to, and just as we heard him called everywhere. In those days, that name told us so many things that the sound of it still recalls to our minds today and rekindles in our hearts an infinite number of tender sentiments. It is only natural that in the course of time, as these memories slowly fade away, together with the men who cherish them, the luminous figure of the canonized Saint, whose heavenly patronage is invoked, and whose deeds, now consecrated in history, are universally admired, will irrevocably take the place of the familiar image of a beloved Father. Yet, already now that the cult of St. John Bosco is not inferior either by extension or intensity to the cult granted to other outstanding Saints throughout the Church, we have every reason to believe that in time his devotion will grow and spread, instead of dwindling down or fading away. The reason is that this devotion is deeply rooted in people's hearts and minds. We should also add that the Saint himself is the one who, contributes directly to its growth, as he generously responds and intercedes on behalf of the faithful who invoke him. As a matter of fact, from all parts of the world reports of numerous and truly exceptional graces granted because of his powerful intercession are contimially coming in. God, Who entrusted a worldwide mission to Don Bosco and Who visibly helped him while he labored to fulfill it, still continues to support the works that he founded and bequeathed to his spiritual sons. Don Bosco already occupies a conspicuous place in history, too. We may be sure that, as the passage of time makes it easier for us to evaluate the important role he played within the Church and Society, most people will appreciate more fully the great stature of his multifaceted personality, xiv Preface and gauge the proper value of his religious and civil activity. This is confirmed by the fact that year after year, publications on Don Bosco have increased so rapidly that there is no indication that they will slow down or come to a halt in the near future. Actually, this is only the beginning; for it was quite recently that people began to pay serious attention to all the many aspects of his life and activity. Posterity alone will tell! What may turn out to be a surprise to many is the fact that, in comparison with other causes of beatification and canonization, Don Bosco's cause lasted so long. These causes are very complex matters, as they rely on complicated mechanisms. Their regular and continued rhythm hinges on an infinite number of interior and exterior ingredients. The more complex the life lived by the Servant of God, the more complications will eventually show up. The cause of Don Bosco was not the cause of St. Teresa of the Child Jesus, for example, who lived her short life within the restricted cloister of nuns; nor was it in any way like that of Mother Cabrini, whose life, although quite full of activity, yet bore the signs of an ordinary pattern. In his long career, not only did Don Bosco embrace the whole world with his personal activity, either directly or indirectly, but he also had contacts with an infinite number of people for widely diversified reasons, in an era of radical transformations, both political and social. This obliged him to take stands unknown in the past and act as a trailblazer on paths previously untrodden.