reading.906
Th e pedagogy of faith leaves ample room for explicit forms of public witness, including together in
large groups: solemn religious celebrations, organised participation of particular groups in liturgical
services, such as for altar boys, choir members sodali ties, pilgrimages to churches and shrines.
Reminiscing on the turbulent days of 1848, Don Bosco wrote in the Memoirs of the Oratory:
To encourage our young men ever more to disdain human respect, that year, for the first
time, in that year for the first time we marched in procession, to make those visits [to
churches on Holy Thursday] singing the Stabat Mater and Miserere.907
6. Sacramental pedagogy in general and specifically the Eucharist
In boarding establishments we notice a literal application of thepedagogical principle relating to the sacraments. And even though this principle was indicated as a general orientation in what he wrote about the preventive system, it involves the entire system.908
Naturally this principle, in due proportion, is applicab le to all Don Bosco's institutions. It is a well - known fact that the term 'sacraments' in Don Bosco's educational language, stands for the sacraments
of Penance and the sacrament of Holy Eucharist which are “the wings needed to fly to Heaven”.909
Frequent Confession and Communion, daily Mass are the pillars which must support the
edifice of education, from which we propose to banish the use of threats and the cane.
Never force the boys to frequent the sacraments but encourage them to do so, give them
every opportunity. On occasions of retreats, triduums, novenas, sermons and catechism
classes, let the beauty, grandeur and holiness of the Catho9lic religion be dwelt on, for in
the sacraments it offers to all of us a very easy and useful means to attain our salvation and
peace of heart. In this way children take readily to these practices of piety and will adopt
them willingly with joy and benefit.910
But for a quicker journey to the beneficial use of the sacraments of Penance and Eucharist, the appeal
Don Bosco made to educators and those to be educated in his Life of Dominic Savio is quite significant
Give me a young ma who frequently approaches these sacraments and you will see him
grow during his youth, reach adulthood and, if so God so wills, advan ced old age, with
conduct which stands out as an example for all those who know him. Let the youngsters
come to understand this principle, so that they may put it into practice; let all those who are
involved in the education of these same youngsters unde rstand this principle, in order to be
able to teach it.
911
Basic to education in the sacraments are the indications provided by catechetical instruction and
traditional preaching: on the necessary conditions for a valid, worthy and fruitful reception of the above mentioned sacraments; on the main actions and parts connected with them; on the serious danger of
committing a sacrilege when the right dispositions are not there; and on the frequent reception of the
sacraments (which he insists on to a growing degr ee).
As we have already remarked, Don Bosco would never fail to denounce the wiles of the Devil who, in
906Chapter 18 will speak more specifically of the school of Christian doctrine.
907MO (1991) 193.
908Cf. A. Caviglia, Savio Domenico e Don Bosco, Studio, pp. 343-363, Don Bosco e la Pedagogia dei Sacramenti. 909G. Bonetti, Annali II (1861-1862), p. 13.
910Il sistema salesiano (1877), p. 54, 56, OE XXVIII 432, 434. Between square brackets we find a text inserted into the
Regolamento per le case (p. 8, OE XXIX 104).
911G. Bosco, Vita del giovanetto Savio Domenico..., p. 68, OE XI 218.