Memoirs of the Oratory

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Memoirs of the Oratory
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Overview

• The Memoirs of the Oratory are one of the most
  personal and lively writings by Don Bosco
• They have contributed significantly to
  constructing the image of Don Bosco which
  continues to circulate
• They are an important tool for understanding Don
  Bosco His mentality, spirituality, pedagogy and
  pastoral model.

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The story and fortune of the text 1

• The text of the MO was put together between 1873
  and 1875.
• It was then copied by G. Berto and corrected by
  DB on a number of occasions, up till 1879.
• It was used by G. Bonetti for the History of the
  Oratory of St. Francis de Sales published in the
  Salesian Bulletin between 1879 and 1886.
• It was taken up again by G.B. Lemoyne in
  Biographical Memoirs vol. I and vol. II, which
  then integrated it with other data.

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History and fortunes of the text 2

• First complete edition edited by E. Ceria (1946),
  at the request of P. Ricaldone to encourage a
  return to the charismatic origins of Salesian
  work
• Various translations (Fr 1951 Sp 1955 )
• Critical observations (Klein-Valentini 1955
  Braido 1965 Stella 1968)
• New interest and translations (Fr 1978 Br
  1982 It 1985 Eng 1989)

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Memories of the future.

• DB wanted to define his understanding of an
  overall educative experience and formulate an
  action programme (Braido)
• He highlighted the purposes of the Oratory which
  God wanted It is a religious and pedagogical
  poem a re-reading of the past in a theological
  mode (Stella)
• The MO are DBs richest book in terms of content
  and preventive directions a handbook of pedagogy
  and spirituality in story form (Braido)

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An evocative narrative of the oratorys identity

• In the MO
• Don Bosco reviews his personal formational
  journey
• And at the same time his mental schemes emerge,
• Spiritual traits of his interior world,
• The model of educator and pastor dear to him,
• The most original and distinguishing style of his
  Oratory.

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Why did DB write the MO?

• By command from above authority (MO,
  Introduction)
• Belief The Oratory was willed by God for the
  salvation of the young, therefore a need to
  present its beginnings, purposes, method
• A critical moment for Don Boscos work
• For external reasons. Approval of the
  Congregation and tensions with Archbishop
  Gastaldi Need for an historical reflection and
  basis
• For internal reasons. The development of Salesian
  work Spiritual and pedagogical formation of his
  disciples and to clarify charismatic identity