Franceso from Argentera (1864). 455 Similar to these are some stories with instructional and biographical background: The power of a good education (l855),456 Valentine or the story of an obstructed vocation (1866);457 Severinus or the adventures of a young man from the Alps (l868);458 Confidential reminders for Rectors is full of solid pedagogical meaning. These Reminders, as mentioned earlier, are only a letter addressed to Fr. Michael Ruawho had justbeen appointed Rector of the College at Mirabello Monferrato (Italy).459

The Memoirs of the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales is an exceptional document of lived pedagogy in reference to the years 1815-l854 and in particular to the first initiatives vis-a-vis the Festive Oratory in Turin and the start of the hospice or Annex. These Memoirs edited by Don Bosco between 1873 and 1879,were published for the first time in 1846.460 The preventive system in the education of youth is the best known work written by Don Bosco in l877.461A memo sent to the Italian minister for the interior, Francis Crispi in February 1878, has the same title but different content.462.

Don Bosco compiled various regulations for his educational institutions. Wide-ranging and important are: Rules of the Oratory of St. Francis sales for day students (l877)463 and The regulations for the Society of St. Francis de Sales. In these latter regualtions the introductory articles are the most important, pedagogically speaking.464

Even though relegated to later writings (1881-1882) Don Bosco’s two positions on his system of education, in two different conversations in 1854 and 1864 should be considered reliable: the first is the one Don Bosco took with Urban Rattazzi, a government minister of the Kingdom of Sardinia.465 The other was in conversation with an elementary school teacher, Francis Bodrato.466

We also have an exceptional letter on punishments very close to Don Bosco's way of thinking and with interesting references to the preventive system. It has definite connection with the experience at the very heart of Don Bosco's undertakings, namely the Valdocco Oratory in Turin.467 There are also two significant letters dated May 10 1884: the first, a short one, was sent to community of youngsters at Valdocco; the second contains material for the Salesians working at the Oratory. Both letters were

455 Cf. A. Caviglia, La “Vita di Besucco Francesco” scritta da don Bosco e il suo contenuto spirituale, in La vita di

Besucco Francesco, (Turin: SEI, 1965), 107-262.

456 Cf. J. Schepens,“La forza della buona educazione”. Étude d’un écrit de don Bosco, in L’impegno dell’educare, ed. J.

M. Prellezzo, (Rome: LAS, 1991). 417-433.

457 Cf. G- Bosco, Valentino o la vocazione impedita. Introduction and critical text, ed. M. Pulingathil, (Rome: LAS, 1987)

111 pages.

458 B. Decanq, “Severino”. Studio dell’opuscolo con particolare attenzione al “primo oratorio”’, RSS 11 (1992): 221-

318.

459 Cf. F. Motto,I “Ricordi confidenziali ai direttori” di don Bosco, RSS 3 (1984): 125-166.

460 Only two editions exist of these, one with a twofold structure, variants, and history, the other with only historical

apparatus, ed.A. Ferreira da Silva, (Rome: LAS, 1991). The first of these is used in this book. On the particular

pedagogical value of theMemoirs of the Oratory, cf. P. Braido,“Memorie” del futuro, RSS 11 (1992): 97-127. 461 Cf. G. Bosco,Il sistema preventivo nella educazione della gioventù. Introduction and critical text ed. by P. Braido,

RSS (1985) 171-321.

462 Ibid., 300-304.

463 Cf. OE XXIX 31-94 and 97-196.

464 Cf. P. Braido, Il “sistema preventivo” in un “decalogo” per educatori, RSS 4 (1985): 131-148.

465 BS 6 (1882) n. 10 and 11, October and November, 171-172 and 179-180, speak of it for the first time,. Cf

Conversazione con Urbano Rattazzi (1854), ed. By Antonio Ferreira da Silva, in P. Braido, (ed)., Don Bosco educatore.

Scritti e testimonianze, (Rome: LAS, 1997), 75-87.

466 The first reconstruction can be found in a biography of Salesian Francesco Bodrata, in draft form, written 1881: cf. Il

dialogo tra don Bosco e il maestro Francesco Bodrato (1864), ed. by Antonio Ferreira da Silva in P. Braido (ed), Don

Bosco educatore, 187-198.

467 J. M. Prellezzo,Dei castighi da inliggersi nelle case salesiane. Una lettera circolare attribuita a don Bosco, RSS 5

(1986): 263-308.