Loving kindness touches chords creates vibes which engage the entire personality of those addressed, namely, young people and adults who will become sensitive to an entire gamut of interests, both material and spiritual. To “win over the heart” of the young does not only mean touching their emotional world; nor is their response only one of affection. It is also one of gratitude, esteem, respect, desire to correspond, commitment and cooperation.

The final consideration is connected with the meaning that Don Bosco gave to the term 'heart', in a properly religious and theological context, and the interpretation given to typical expressions like “speak the language of the heart” and therefore “win over the heart of the pupils”, namely, reawaken a young person's potential, his will, mind, and his eagerness to work.1068

6. Loving kindness becomes Salesian spirit

During the last years of his life, in reference to mutual relationships between Salesian religious and other educators, with the boys and with everyone, Don Bosco understood and formulated the term loving kindness in a way that related to the thinking of the 'doctor of charity', St Francis de Sales. Loving kindness ends up being closely tied to the spirit of charity and gentleness of St Francis de Sales, a true spirit of gentleness and charity.1069

In 1880, Don Bosco summed up the spirit of the Congregation in this term, the spirit of its entire being

and activity, especially the spirit of educational and preventive activity as it emerged from the second

General Chapter:

Our patience, charit y and meekness should be reflected in our words and deeds in such a

way as to have the words of Jesus Christ fulfilled in us: You are the salt of the earth, you

are the light of the world".

1070

The two terms sal and lux come together to create the word 'Salesian': “do not forget that we are Salesians: sal and lux. The salt of gentleness, patience and charity, the light reflected in all our outward. activities: ut omnes videant opera nostra bona et glorificent patrem nostrum qui in coelis est, that all may see our good deeds and glorify our Father who is in Heaven”.1071

“Charity, patience, gentleness, never humiliating reprimands, never punishments, always do good to whomsoever we can and harm to no one”1072

“Gentleness in the way we speak and act, in the way we warn.. conquers everything and everyone”.1073 "Insist on the charity and gentleness of St. Francis de Sales whom we ought imitate”.1074

When Mother Catherine Daghero was elected Superior General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians on August 12, 1882, Don Bosco gave her as a gift a box of amaretti (macaroons, though here the word refers to the literal translation: small bitter things) with a note wishing her the best:

Here you have some candy that you may distribute to your Daughters. Keep the gentleness

you need to practise always and with everyone for yourself; but always be ready to receive

the amaretti, or bitter mouthfuls which God might choose to send you1075

Loving kindness in its most pregnant sense ended up by being identified with Salesian spirit, with

1068 Cf P. Stella, Don Bosco nella stroia della religiosità cattolica, Vol II, pp. 37-41. 1069 G. Barberis, Verbali, quad. 1, Capitolo generale II, 4 Sept. 1880, pp. 16-17. 1070 Circular to Salesians 29 Nov. 1880, E II 638.

1071 Letter to Fr Costamagna, 31Jan. 1881, E IV 7.

1072 Letter to Bishop Cagliero, 6 August, 1885, E IV 328.

1073 Letter to Fr Costamagna, 10 August 1885, E IV 332.

1074 Letter to Fr Lasagna, 30 Sept. 1885, E IV 340.

1075 E IV 76.