austraLasia
#1769
Saints aren't angels -
again!
Note: although we
ran an early note on the release of this book (#1755), here is one by the author
himself, courtesy of the SUE E-Service.
NEW YORK: 23rd February 2007 -- This is a
new story about the most exciting days in the life of Don Bosco - the 22 months
preceding the founding of the Valdocco Oratorio. My new dramatic
biography is the creative story of those months in the priestly career of our
mutual friend, Saint John Bosco, Turin's "Chief of the Rogues". He demonstrated
how concerned adults recognize the vast talent of social good in teenagers. I
know. I was one of them until Salesians showed me a new, better route. Don
Bosco, whom our Church canonized in 1934, fought political leaders, local
pastors, and struggled continuously against anyone seeking to prevent completion
of his heaven-sent goal to teach and save boys. You already know the basic
facts. This new story is an inside peek at the day-to-day concerns and troubles
he waded through, the mena nd women he followed and fought to reach the goal he
sought and the reasons for all of it.
There never
has been one like him – an acrobat, singer, cobbler, tailor, farm boy, magician,
a man physically afraid of no one – and yet his heart was broken a dozen times.
A lifelong dreamer, he had no business sense and needed the help of others. But
he laughed, tumbled and performed his way through until he was so worn that he
lay dying on a bed in a hospital from which he had been fired as a chaplain. In
realistic settings you will meet once more people you thought you knew,
Marchioness Giulietta Colbert Tancredi di Barolo, who hired him and fired him;
the militant Vicar of Turin who demanded he fold his program and move on; the
careful reasoning and guidance of his mentors Saint Joseph Cafasso and Doctor
John Borel; a fictitious spy who snooped on him to report back his moves to the
Vicar of Turin, Count Michele Benso di Cavour. See Doctor John Borel, Don
Sebastian Pacchiotti and the famous Italian writer, Silvio Pellico, in new
light. Learn a bit more about the work of Saint Joseph Cottolengo and his
brother Canon Luigi, and papal approval of the constitutions of the Sisters of
St. Ann and the Magdalenes under the superb management and direction of the
clever Marchioness.
As author I will share a portion of
all royalties I receive from book sales with the Salesians. [The author is a
graduate of Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey]
Availabilitiy:
Xlibris.com (Bookstore); Amazon.com; Borders.com; BarnesandNoble.com.
Available at cost (USD14.50) from Salesiana Publishers at the provincial house
New Rochelle only. Shipping added if applicable.
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