Lanzo on February 11, 1871. The dream tells of a monster who plays his part with the assurance of help from trustworthy 'friends', namely: those who make promises and do not keep them, those who confess the same sins every time, and those who indulge in bad talk: “every word is a seed which brings forth marvelous fruits”. But the monster is also forced to reveal who “his greatest enemies” are: those who often go to communion, those who are devotees of Mary and especially those who keep the resolutions they made in confession.939
8. A Marian and devotional pedagogy
Along with the Sacramental experience of Penance and Eucharist is Don Bosco's insistence on practical things like habitual attitudes and behaviour seasoned by Christian piety; readiness to pray and sensitivity to devotion. 940
To attain this, religious festivities, brightened up with joyful forms of singing and music, make a
singular contribution.
941
The pedagogy of 'piety' is experienced more through a series of practices rather than being spelt out in
words; daily, monthly, yearly liturgical as well as civil rhythms. Within this practical, religious
pedagogy of Don Bosco, one can recognise the persistent intertwining of Confession, Mass, 942
Communion, spiritual reading, prayer, and the divine office. We see these things expressed in the 'Lives' of his young pupils, as well as in other stories of a biographical kind: The Lives of Dominic Savio,943 Michael Magone
944
and Francis Besucco945 make it evident since their lives reflect the experience of the community in which they live.
Don Bosco's practical, religious pedagogy is relived by Peter, the chief character in his The power of a good education,946 in the parish and at Don Bosco's Oratory; and b y Valentino, in the story by the same
name, who boards at a school which has a Salesian style. Valentino prayed intensely at home, during
his childhood, thanks to the guidance of his mother; at school, where he easily picked up the old habit
of following t he practices of piety. Valentino's subsequent crises are linked with the neglect of such
practices.
947
Among devotions, the devotion to the Blessed Mother holds a position par excellence.948“Devotion to the Blessed Virgin is the support of every faithful Christian, and is particularly the support of Youth”.949 Michael Magone feels that the devotion to Our Lady is almost like a vocation, from the day he receives the gift of a holy picture of the Blessed Virgin with the following words written on it: Venite filii, audite me, timorem Domini docebo vos (Come children, listen to me and I will teach you the fear of theLord) and he begins to honour her under the title of “Heavenly Mother, divine teacher, compassionate
939E II 149-159.
940Cf. P. Stella, Don Bosco nella storia della religiosità..., vol II, pp. 275-357, Preghiera Sacramenti e Osservanze
religiose.
941We will speak more widely on this in Chap 16.
942Cf. Una preziosa parola ai figli ed alle figlie. Turin Oratory of st. Francis de Sales Press 1862, p. 5 (Ricordo II), 7-8
(Ricordo III), 13-15 (Ricordo VIII), OE XIII 441, 443-444. 449-451.
943Cf. G. Bosco, Vita del giovanetto Savio Domenico..., pp. 62-67, OE XI 212-217.
944G. Bosco, Cenno biografico sul giovanetto Magone Michele..., Chap VI Sua esemplare sollecitudine per le pratiche di
pietà, pp. 29-33, OE XIII 183-187.
945G. Bosco, Il pastorello delle Alpi..., pp. 113-119, OE XV 355-361.
946G. Bosco, La forza della buona educazione..., Chap VIII Singolarità di sua divozione, pp. 62-69, OE VI 336-343. 947Cf. G. Bosco, Valentino o la vocazione impedita. Episodio contemporaneo. Tuin. Oratoryof St Francis de Sales Press
1866, pp. 5-6, 22 (Chap I La madre di famiglia), OE XVII 183-184, 200 ; pp. 19-25 (Chap. IV Nuovo collegio. Ritorna
alla pietà), OE XVII 197-203; and then, in more or less serious crisis pp. 10-13, 14-16, 38-39, OE XVII 188-191, 192-
194, 216-217
948Cf. P. Stella, Don Bosco nella sotria della religiosità..., Vol II, pp. 147-175, Maria Santissima; A. Caviglia, Domenico
Savio e Don Bosco. Studio,pp. 310-322, Devozione e dedizione a Maria SS.
949G. Bosco, Cenno biografico sul giovanetto Magone Michele..., p. 39 OE XIII 193