St. John Bosco

Reporting of BastaBugie editorial team

We have already underlined the inspiring principles of Don Bosco's Preventive System, widely and effectively applied across time and space (the Salesian family and the work of the oratories are a widespread reality in many countries around the world, that never stops bearing fruit), find complete application and usefulness not only in the field of pastoral action in favor of the education of young people in parishes, in the oratories, in the activity of catechesis, but like these “key principles” have undisputed educational validity in all educational contexts, including family.
It is our belief that the pedagogical directions of the Saint pedagogue are not only transferable to parent-child relational dynamics, but that precisely they can constitute those correctives that are so indispensable in ours, often dramatic, educational emergencies, in addressing the educational problems that challenge us and often defeat us as parents. This is the thesis that is closest to our hearts: Don Bosco is a shining light in our families too: he also guides and restores our children to goodness, if we understand, we welcome and apply the message it communicates to us.
REASON, RELIGION, LOVINGNESS
We have already argued “passing by” on the three key words that inspire his thinking: reason, religion, kindness, and how these three aspects, if well combined in the teacher-student approach, ensure the trust of our children towards the educator, achieving the much desired “educational success”. I wondered which of these three elements our current reality is most lacking in, farthest from the proposed model: in reason, in religion, in loving kindness? I tried to hypothesize what Don Bosco would tell us today by observing our boys, looking inside our families.
A first awareness: Perhaps, in our experiences as educators there is no lack of reference to “reason” e all'”kindness”, but it is no longer central there “religion”. It actually happens, in an increasingly convinced and widespread way, That, in the name of an undisputed principle of secularism of the public school service, for example, or in the name of freedom of choice of one's religious belief, of the fundamental inspiring values ​​of one's life, be overlooked, even setting aside the spiritual aspect of the education of our children, delegating all responsibility to the parish and entrusting a blank delegation to the catechists who work in the area, or waiting for our boys, once they grow up, do “freely” their own choices.
Don Bosco teaches us that this is a failure, if immediately, and permeating every experience, activities and knowledge, a dialectical connection is not created between what is immanent and what is transcendent, if we don't give to our actions, choices, plans the direction that God, in His infinite goodness he inspires us, if in our daily reality we do not enter into dialogue with Him. Read More