The History

Southeastern France and Western Switzerland, in past centuries, were united as the Kingdom of Savoy and, later, with northwestern Italy, as the Kingdom of Sardinia. One of the ducal families was the de Sales family. From this family came Francis [1567-1622], youngest of thirteen children, who became a civil and canon [Church] lawyer. His father wanted him to enter the diplomatic service. Instead, he became a priest and, later, Bishop of Geneva. Because Geneva was a Calvinist stronghold, Francis never resided in his See. Instead, he ministered to his people from Annecy, a charming town nestled in the foothills of the French Alps.

In the Piedmont area of northwestern Italy the devotion to St. Francis de Sales was inculcated in every child. St. John Bosco was a native of the same area. Most of his adult life was spent in the Piedmont capital city of Turin, where he ministered to poor and abandoned youth through youth centers ("oratories"), schools, and parishes. To further his spirit of attracting, protecting, and educating youth, he gathered outstanding alumni of his works who were unconditionally devoted to him.

In 1859, he gathered a handful of young men and proposed the idea of a religious society which was less rigorous and confining than the great Orders of the Church at that time. His followers were to "roll up their shirtsleeves" and mingle with the boys, gaining their respect and love, and thus be in a position to advise and train them in a way described as "loving-kindness." His motto "Give me Souls, you can have the rest," was put into practice through "reason, religion, and kindness."

As time went on his collaborators, instead of referring to themselves as members of the "Pious Society of St. Francis de Sales," shortened it to "Salesian." The Catholic Church gave final approval of his society in 1874.

The order grew with miraculous speed. In 1872, St. John Bosco, with St. Mary Mazzarello, co-founded the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters). The religious branches of the Salesians currently number 40,000 and are found in 121 nations throughout the world. They also staff many mission foundations, mostly in Third-World countries. Today the Salesians of Don Bosco are the third-largest order in the Catholic church.

Next: The Founder