The Powder Magazine
Gabriel Fascio
The New Church is Blessed
While the items were on public show, the powder magazine near the Cemetery of St Peter in Chains blew up on the 26th April 1852. The concussion that followed was horrible and violent. Many buildings near and far were shaken, and serious damage was reported from it. Of the workmen, 28 were killed. That the disaster was not even worse was due to a certain sergeant named Sacco, who at great personal risk prevented the fire from reaching a bigger supply of powder. This could have destroyed the whole city of Turin. The Oratory house, which was badly constructed, suffered serious damage; the deputies sent us an offering of 300 francs to help repair it.
In connection with this incident, I would like to recall a fact which refers to one of our young artisans, Gabriel Fascio. The previous year he fell ill and was at death’s door. At the height of his delirium he kept saying over and over,
Woe to Turin! Woe to Turin!
His companions asked him, Why?
Because it’s threatened by a terrible disaster.
What kind of disaster?
A horrible earthquake, he answered.
When’s it coming?
Next year. Oh, woe to Turin on the 26th April.
What should we do?
Pray to St Aloysius to protect the Oratory and those who live in it.
It was then that, at the request of all the youngsters of our house, a Pater, Ave, and Gloria addressed to this saint were added to our common morning and evening prayers. In fact, relative to the danger, our house suffered slight damage, and there were no injuries to our boarders.
Meanwhile, the work on the Church of St Francis de Sales went on with incredible speed, and in the space of eleven months it was completed. On 20th June 1852, it was consecrated for divine worship with a solemnity that was more unique than rare amongst us.
At the entrance to the courtyard an arch of colossal height was erected. On it in large letters was written:
In letters of gold
we shall write on every side
may this day live for ever.
From every side echoed these verses which had been put to music by Maestro Joseph Blanchi, of happy memory:
Sooner shall the setting sun
Return to its rising,
Sooner shall every river
Return to its source,
Than shall the memory
Of this beautiful day
Be forgotten amongst us.
The following words were recited and sung with ardent enthusiasm:
As a bird flits from branch to branch,
Goes searching for trusty shelter, etc.
Many newspapers reported this celebration; see L’Armonia and Patria from those days.
On the 1st June that same year a Mutual Aid Society was established to stop our boys from enrolling in the so-called Workers Society, which right from its start showed that its principles were anything but religious. One may refer to the booklet we published; it served its purpose wonderfully. Our aid society later converted into an affiliated conference of the St Vincent de Paul Society, which is still functioning.
The church was built but needed all kinds of furnishings. Civic charity did not let us down. Commendatore Joseph Duprè undertook to decorate a chapel dedicated to St Aloysius and buy a marble altar which still adorns the church. Another benefactor undertook to fit out the choir loft, where a small organ was set up for the day boys. Mr Michael Scannagatti bought a complete set of candlesticks; Marquis Fassati undertook to supply Our Lady’s altar and provided a set of bronze candlesticks, and later the statue of Our Lady. Fr Cafasso paid all the expenses incurred for the pulpit. The high altar was provided by Doctor Francis Vallauri and completed by his son Fr Peter, a priest.
Thus in a short time the new church was fitted with everything needed for both private and solemn ceremonies.