resolve to collaborate effectively in bringing about something better in the proposed Statute and to bring about the best of traditions more urgently required to build a new political and social order founded on religion and moral values.
Here is what Don Bosco is said to have declared to the Marquis Robert D'azeglio:
Marquis, I have a steady rule in keeping out of anything to do with politics: Never Pro or
Con …; I do whatever small amount of good I can on behalf of abandoned youth, and strive
with all my strength to have them become good Christians, as far as their religion is
concerned, and honest citizens, as far as civil society is concerned… Invite me to
participate in anything where a priest can practice charity and you will see me ready to
sacrifice my life and means; but I want to be now and forever out of politics.574
Really, Don Bosco's politics are of a religious nature directed to providing spiritual benefit, especially for the young and also for their material well-being tied in with that.575 This is the basic criterion used by Don Bosco to pass a judgment on events and ideas and, as a consequence, to act. "My heartfelt recommendation is that prayers be said that our Lord God may have pity on poor Piedmont, which is facing really disastrous times for our holy Catholic religion".576 These are the words Don Bosco wrote to the bishop of Ferrara. To Canon Lawrence Gastaldi he wrote in even broader terms. "These are dreadful times for religion. I think that from St. Maximus until our own days things have never been so much on the decline as they are today. The famous legal project was passed in the Chamber of the Electors (Deputies); we hope it will not pass the Senate. The King is very sad, but he is surrounded by people who have already been bribed and cannot be trusted The priests work and, I believe, do not neglect to say or do what needs to be said and done to oppose imminent disorder. The hand of God will grow heavy on us and allow some disaster to take place; we will be certainly comforted by the fact that we have done what we could”.577
The political judgments Don Bosco passed were always functionally Catholic and decidedly negative, because they referred to the abuse of freedom, the protection of apostates and Protestants, the denial of the rights of the Church, the likelihood that evil would spread. “Most of all, youth are at risk; The Lord wants to test us a lot. It is the first time we see Protestant envoys in our city preaching in public squares! Just imagine what scandal will be given, what amount of evil will be done! Books, leaflets, catechism classes, sermons, and promises of employment, alms, and gifts.... these are the means used by Protestants. The priests are working tirelessly and steadily,.butt we have to say it: youth are at risk!”578
"Things religious and sacred ministers” Pope Pius IX wrote, “have been exposed for some two years now to serious trials in our towns, due to the usual donations made by Protestants, and also due to threats and oppression even which the authorities have noted. Added to this is the non-Catholic instruction provided for youth in the primary and secondary schools”. 579
Don Bosco would not fail to underscore the problems of the year’s l866-l867 as he hoped for civil and religious peace and reassured the Pope of his solidarity and prayers. Writing to his trusted friend Cavaliere Oreglia, Don Bosco says:
574 MO (1991), 199-2008.
575 Substanitally, his ‘real politik’ boils down to educational, assistential action on behalf of poor and abandoned youth,
morally in danger and socially dangerous. The ‘educationalist’ policy he illustrates with particular force in his talks in
the last decade and makes clear, especially, to a group of past pupils of the Oratory after the journey to Paris, 24 June
1883 (BS 7 (1883) n. 8, August, 127-128-
576 Letter of 19 Dec. 1853, Em I 209.
577 Letter of 23 Feb. 1855, Em I 248. In reference to the law of suppression of religious orders.
578 Letter to Marquis Giovanni Patrizi, 20 June, Em I 209 [written; it was sent on 24 Oct.] 1863,Em I 586.
579 Letter to Pius IX, 13 Feb. Em I 552.