It gives me great pleasure to write this foreword for the English edition of the Memoirs of the Oratory of Don Bosco. This jewel of Salesian literature will be a great help toward a better knowledge of Don Bosco’s personality in the first forty years of his life (1815 - 1855); it will make for a better understanding of the early, inspirational apostolate at Valdocco, its evolution, and its steady growth despite difficulties on all sides.
The Memoirs of the Oratory are simply written, engagingly intimate, warmhearted; and there is a touch of humour in them too. I hope the few thoughts in this foreword will help readers to benefit much from the profound spirituality that finds its natural seedbed in these writings of our founder. But apart from any reflections this foreword may engender, the thing that will really and truly help Salesians understand the heart of Don Bosco will be the great love we have for him and our firm resolve to know him better, so that at this point in mankind’s history we may be able faithfully to continue his mission and spirit.
The renewal of our Salesian holiness must begin with these memoirs. They have a very special place, a particular significance among Don Bosco’s writings. When his memoirs are read in terms of Don Bosco’s sanctity – which is essential to understand them fully – they reveal a substance that is quite surprising.
The word holiness is hardly found in the text, but Don Bosco’s holiness is evident throughout the Memoirs. He reveals, for example, a keen awareness that God was using his humble person to establish a great project for the salvation of innumerable young persons, especially the friendless ones.
Pondering what use his Memoirs would be, Don Bosco concluded:
A record to help people overcome problems that may come in the future by learning from the past. It will serve to make known how God himself has always been our guide. (Preface)