becomes old, will never deviate from his original way of living). 85

Pius IX exhorted the bishops to take stock of the many “criminal ways” evidenced by the sad times they lived in, and being used by the enemies of God and of humanity to try to pervert and corrupt innocent youths in particular. “The Bishops”, the Pope adds, “should direct all of their efforts towards the proper education of youth, for it is mostly on youth that the prosperity of Christian and civil society depends.” Only a Christian education, as a matter of fact, was capable of offering words and means of grace, suitable for the Christian restoration of individuals and of society.86

Many welfare and educational experiences of the 19th century, including Don Bosco’s, would be inspired by these very definitely Catholic roots, and would draw impulses and means from them directed more broadly toward the improvement of all human beings and society according to the needs of the times.87

85 Prov. 22:6

86 Apostolic Letter Cum Naper to Bishops in the Kingdom fo the Two Sicilies, 20 January 1858, Acta Pii IX, . III, p. 12. 87 Naturally we can only indicate some of these, keeping in mind geographic and ideal proximity.