Rozwój Towarzystwa Salezjańskiego w latach 1875-1888
The development of the Salesians in the years 1875-1888

Summary/Abstract: The 19th century in the history of Italy was very difficult and unstable. On the Italian peninsula there were numerous atrocious wars, revolutionary movements and first of all its reunion movement. The above mentioned movements as well as a process of industrialization in the country caused great poverty across the country. That had a negative influence on education of the young and schools. A great number of children and youth were not in education at all. This situation was worsened by the fact of working women in industry. These circumstances led the Italian youth astray. Many people of goodwill and institutions in the country took initiative to the bad tendency on the field of education and school. Saint John Bosco is undoubtedly one of them. He initiated work with the poor and depraved children of Turin. As a young priest, from 1841 to 1844, he took the post of chaplaincy in one of prisons of Turin, where the young offenders were placed. Working as a chaplain he came to conclusion that it is absolutely important to make everything possible to keep children away from prisons where they undergo further moral degradation. Therefore, he started to set up places and youth centres suitable for young boys where free education can be provided for them and they can obtain job qualifications. Thus St. John Bosco founded oratories, schools, educational schools, boarding schools and colleges. In order to have followers of the youth work, he brought a Society of Saint Frances de Sales into being (to work for juvenile boys) and a Society of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (to work for juvenile girls). He also created his own system of education called the Preventive System based on mind, religion, love and assistance of the young, as well as family relations among the boys. From 1875 onwards one can notice an ongoing development of the Society of St. Frances de Sales. The Italian society, many European countries and numerous worldwide countries kept asking John Bosco to establish salesian enterprises for youth education in their countries. He had, nevertheless, some real obstacles to implement his ideas in the mentioned countries. Simply, the main problem was the lack of qualified personnel to go ahead with them. This article presents a development of the Society of St. Frances de Sales when the Rector Major was St. John Bosco.

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