News & Views from Rome - 2 PILGRIMAGE TO TURIN - DAY 1

Members of the General Chapter went on a three-day pilgrimage to Turin – the Italian city in which Don Bosco began his work and where he died.

Basilica of Mary Help of  Christians in Turin

We left in three buses from Rome, leaving the Generalate at 5 am. The 900 km between Rome and Turin was covered in 10 hours. On the way we passed Florence and Bologna – two major Italian cities.

We stopped for lunch (we had been given a packed lunch to carry with us) around 1.30 pm at a way side Rest area  at Tortona.

Another View of the Basilica

From Tortona, for several miles, we had clear view of the beautiful snow-covered Alps Mountains in the distance. The bus moved at a steady pace of 100 km per hour (on cruise control). The upper limit of speed had been fixed by law and technology at 100 kmph – it could not go faster, although it had the capacity.

We reached Turin a little before 3 pm. After checking into the hotel we were driven to Val Salice (translated Willow Brook) where Don Bosco’s body was originally buried.

  The place where Don Bosco's body was initially buried. In the bottom right corner is his biretta.

Although he died at Valdocco, the place where spent all his priestly life, he was not allowed to be buried there, because of Municipality regulations. However, the City officials themselves suggested Val Salice, where the Salesian ran a school,  as it was outside the city limits.

Don Bosco died on January 31^, 1888. His body was kept for public veneration till Feb 2. That evening the body was taken in procession around the city. It is said there were about 5000 people in the procession.

Interior of the beautiful Church at Val Salice

However, city police calculated that there were around 100,000 people paying homage to him that day in various parts of the city. He could not be buried that day, however, as his grave at Val Salice had not been ready.

He was finally buried on February 4^th at the top of a long flight of  stairs. (Fr. Julius Barberis, who had been the Novice Master General of the Congregation later revealed that Don Bosco had told him in September 1887, just a few months before his death that he would watch over the young  Salesians in formation, precisely from that spot!)

Above the Main altar at Val Salice

Fr. Micheal Rua, the successor of Don Bosco, and Fr. Paul Albera, the second successor of Don Bosco were buried on the right and left of Don Bosco at Val Salice.

The body was later in 1927 was taken back to Valdocco and buried there.

Don Bosco's Statue in front of the Basilica

From Val Salice we went over to Valdocco, where Don Bosco began his work in 1841 and where he lived until his death in 1888, and where his incorrupt body is preserved and exposed for public veneration at  the magnificent Basilica of Mary Help of Christians that Don Bosco had built in gratitude to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Don Bosco's Body in the Basilica

In the evening we gathered for the Holy Eucharist at the Basilica. The Eucharist was presided over by Fr. Pascual Chaves, the Rector Major, surrounded by all the General Council members.

Taking inspiration from the scripture readings given for the feast of the Chair of Peter that was celebrated that day, he exhorted the Salesians to make Jesus of Nazareth the centre of their life, as did Peter in his confession at Caesaria Philippe.

Rector Major with the Performers

A lavish dinner followed after which the Salesians in post-novitiate training at Turin entertained the members of the Chapter and other invited Guests with a lovely musical performance.

After the performance we returned to our hotel. It was a very long day, but very exciting!

Entrance to the Mother House of the Salesians of Don Bosco in Turin