confidence and cordiality, harmony among the educators, loving kindness towards the young: these are all the things Don Bosco considered to have a key importance.

I see the need to deal with one another with much charity and gentleness, and that we

should deal in the same way with all the members. Seeing the charity and gentleness that

we have towards one another will move the boys to be very much committed to our kind of

life...Therefore, I say it and I repeat it: gentleness and charity among ourselves and with

them are the most powerful means to educate them correctly and to foster vocations.1303

Patience, gentleness, a Christian relationship of the teachers with their pupils wi many vocations among them.

1304

ll win over

To all has been mentioned above, there should be added also a courageous pedagogy of the ideals, as

we have seen , when we wrote about the primacy of apostolic charity among the virtues of a Christian

young man and o f the educative journey taken towards choosing a vocation.

In conclusion, the preventive system should lead a young man to a mature vocational choice, and

among these choices also the choice of the ecclesiastical and religious state.

Don Bosco does not f ail to point this out: “Financial and personal sacrifices may need to be made, but if the preventive system is put into practice we will have an abundance of vocations”.1305

Speaking in general terms during the meeting of the Superior Chapter on 12 September 1884, Don Bosco said:

I recommend something else. Study should be done and effort made to introduce the

preventive system in our houses and practise it. The Rector should hold talks on this very

important point. Countless are the advantages for the salvation of souls and the glory of

God.1306

4. The school

Don Bosco's theory and praxis on the school do not offer original features other than the originality which comes from the application of the principles of preventive pedagogy.

Perhaps something can be found in things relating to technical or professional training of the working boys and, in some remarks also religious education. All of his schools demonstrate two fundamental aspects: their ethical religious objective and their social and professional usefulness.

School and culture are considered essentially as means for acquiring moral fibre in a Christian sense, and for the necessary preparation for life: “In order to be able, at the proper time, to earn the bread needed to live.”

4.1 Humanities

The Latin School - generally the five years of high school as indicated by the Casati Law(1859) - presents no remarkable innovations in structure or teaching methods.1307The only remarkable item is the insistence on the usual principle: Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This meant that honouring and loving God are the beginning, means and end of scholastic formation and the humility

1303 G. Barberis, Verbali del secondo capitolo generale (1880), FdB 1857 C10-12., quad. 1, folo. 13v.

1304 F. Motto, Memorie dal 1841 al 1884-5-6..., p. 106. He wrote to Fr Tomatis in Argentina: “Through your exemplary

way of life. Charity in speaking, commanding, putting up with others' defects, you will win many for the Congregation”

(letter of 14 August 1884, E IV 337).

1305 F. Motto, Memorie..... p. 106.

1306 G.B. Lemoyne, Verbali delle riunioni capitolari, quad. 1, fol. 33v.

1307