Disturbing Rumors

Don Bosco immersed himself with his boys. And even those friends dear to him persuaded him to give up the project. Several who had attended the seminary and the Convitto with him discouraged him. "You are compromising the good name of priesthood."

And then, the unexpected happened. Because of his obsession to work with his boys, nasty rumors circulated questioning his sanity.

Several good priests all came to him to convince him to reconsider his apostolate and shift to more productive ones. However, it must be noted that not all his fellow priests abandoned him in those most trying days. Fransoni never abandoned him. Fr. Fransoni continued his support to the Oratory.

Alarm at the City Hall

Thoughtless people seeing Don Bosco as he travel here and there with a crowd of boys began to level criticism against him. They grumbled that he was making the boys irresponsible and disobedient to their parents by merely roaming around from one place to another. On the contrary, the boys of Don Bosco readily observed Don Bosco's orders. They're always disciplined.

The unfair observation of the people reached the city hall because of these.

Below is the exchange between the marquis and Don Bosco:

Marquis: I am told that the meetings of your boys are a danger to the public order and peace, so I can no longer permit them.

Don Bosco: My sole purpose is to improve the lot of these poor young. I ask for no money. I teach them religion and proper behavior, and by this means I hope to cut down on the number of juvenile delinquents.

Marquis: You're quite mistaken, my good father. You're only wasting your time. We receive a lot of complains about you. I can't allow further meetings.

Don Bosco: The results I have obtained so far assure me that my efforts are not in vain. I've helped many to learn a skill or a trade under some good craftsman, not only for their god but also for the advantage of their families and society in general.

Marquis: Please now, Don Bosco. Obey me at once and promise to disband the group.

Don Bosco: please do me this favor, marquis, not only for myself but for the sake of so many poor boys who, without the Oratory, would probably come to a bad end.

Marquis: That's enough. The matter is closed.

That same day, Don Bosco went to the archbishop to tell him of his interview with Marquis Cavor—the vicar of the city. The good prelate urged him to be patient.

In the meantime, the marquis had heard from Archbishop Fransoni himself that truly it was with his consent that Don Bosco had begun the Oratory.

Don Bosco’s Bible History

When going to the COnvitto Ecclesiastico to study or to write, he handwritten sheets of Historia Sacra to the porter and read; on his return, he would ask whether he had understood what it is about. If not, Don Bosco would rewrite those pages to make them even simpler and easier to understand.

This work, some 200 pages, published by Speirani and Ferrero, presented the most important events of the Bible in correct, simple, clear language which made it easy for youngsters to grasp its meaning and remember they had read.

The book of Don Bosco can be summarized into three points:

1. The Messiah had certainly come, because all the prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

2. The Messiah had founded a Church, the sole hope of all salvation for all men, infallible in its teachings and in its interpretation of the Bible, indefectible to the end of time because of the unfailing assistance of its founder.

3. This Church is the Roman Catholic Church, which alone through the centuries has preserved the truth taught and confirmed by Jesus Christ.

Its objectives included the following:

1. Refute the allegation of Protestants without the publicity and controversy.
   
2. Protect the boys from dangerous errors.
   

Memorable Outings

Hike to Superga was the first of a long series of similar excursions to various other places in the years that followed. Don Bosco generally announced them in advance and offered them as a type of reward for coming to the Oratory regularly, learning the catechism well, behaving oneself at work, and not being averse to approaching the sacraments from time to time.

Although no constraint was used to enforce discipline, there was never the least disorder. There were no fights, no complaints, no attempts at stealing fruit or anything else.

On the contrary, people who would see the boys as they lined up for the long walk were amazed at their discipline and politeness.

Without a Roof

The other tenants of Fr. Moretta's house complained against the boys of Don Bosco. According to them, they were noisy and their movements annoyed them.

The priest informed Don Bosco about this and gently told him to look for a new place for he didn't have any choice.

Unwilling to turn away the boys Don Bosco approached the Filippi brothers and rented a nearby field from there. So this field, the Oratory moved.

Don Bosco had no place to shelter the boys from rain, wind and sun. In those days, the boys numbered to about 400.

A Harrowing Experience

Don Bosco offered himself to the prison apostolate with love and compassion. It was difficult for him to see convicted individuals being executed. He treated them as his friends, and not as mere prisoners.

Once he was obliged to subject himself to such an experience beyond his strength, Don Bosco had become fond of a convicted 21 year old young man. When the final judgment was handed, the young man was guilty. This meant he would be executed.

Don Bosco went to see the young man before he be executed. The young man wanted Don Bosco to accompany him in his last moment. They were to go to another town where the execution would take place.

Don Bosco spent the whole night with the man—comforting and encouraging him with the hope of a glorious and joyful immortal life.

A Welcome Endorsement

In 1845, Don Bosco's health weakened because of much hard work.

Upon hearing this, the marchioness sent 100 lire from Rome. For a while, Don Bosco had to take a much needed rest.

Meanwhile, Archbishop Fransoni had foreseen that the Oratory would encounter difficulties encountered by any endeavors which were not under the parish control. Added to this was the fact that Don Bosco did not receive any written approval from the kind Archbishop. He got only verbal permissions and approvals.

On 1846, priests met at Turin. The meeting had to do with the spiritual welfare of the people. One of the priests present took the occasion to complain about Don Bosco's festive Oratory.

He grumbled that the boy had been taken away from their parishes. The parish priests were not even informed about the activities of the boys.

They decided to present the situation to Don Bosco.

Don Bosco reasoned out that nearly all of his boys are from out of town. They have come to Turin for work they are not under any parental supervision. Their various dialects, the instability of their residence for livelihood and the influence of their friends were big hindrances that prevent them from attending their parish church.

He suggested that catechism may be taught at the parishes by providing ample ground for recreational activities. This is the usual set up practiced in his Oratory. But the parish priests responded that this is not possible because they did not have either space or personnel.

In the end, the priests gave permission to Don Bosco to carry out his apostolate with the boys.

A Temporary Haven

It was now late fall. The weather was freezing, and long hikes with the boys of the oratory was no longer possible.

Don Bosco had to find some place in the city for a suitable meeting place where he can gather them. With the kind assistance of Fr. Borel, Don Bosco rented three rooms of Fr. Moretta. This private house of the kind priest was near the Refuge. Hence, it is a good place for a meeting place and to host the usual activities (e.g. catechism, recreation, etc.) of the Oratory.

Don Bosco and his boys stayed here for about three months. Availability of a bigger space was still necessary for the growing number of his boys, but they were able to make do with what they have.

These activities went on despite the winter season.

The place of Fr. Moretta, despite the limited space, became a temporary refuge. It became a veritable place for their catechism lessons, confessions and recreations. Churches nearby responded for their other liturgical needs.