by Sergio Giuseppe Todeschini
IThe first Salesians, who joined Don Bosco in starting the Society of St. Francis de Sales, considered it their duty to collect the memories regarding the life of their founding Father; so in February 1875 a "historical commission" met, led by twenty-eight-year-old Don Giulio Barberis, and this praiseworthy initiative was launched. Don Barberis collected the testimonies and memories regarding the activity of Don Bosco and the life of the Turin oratory of Valdocco from May 1875 to June 1879; that precious information filled fifteen handwritten notebooks entitled Chronicle (1875-1879), now kept in the Salesian Central Archive.
In 2022, a critical edition of the collection was published, edited by Don Massimo Schwarzel, secretary of the Don Bosco Study Center, thus making the documentation of this initial period of the Salesian Society available to all scholars.
Reading the Chronicle we come to discover that Don Guanella (who was a Salesian from 1875 to 1878) also appears in four of the numerous episodes narrated by Don Barberis. These are facts that are set in the years 1875-1876, when Don Guanella was present in Turin, initially as a spiritual assistant to the Sons of Mary, young adults on a vocational journey, but also when he had the second assignment as director of the Oratory of San Luigi.
The first episode that one encounters in reading the Chronicle It is dated Friday 24 June 1875, Don Bosco's name day. On that occasion Don Guanella, in charge of the direction of the Turin festive Oratory of San Luigi, visited the founder accompanied by his Oratorians and the young people gave Don Bosco bunches of flowers. He in turn turned to them saying: «I thank you for all these beautiful bunches of flowers that you brought me and for the things you told me; however, it is all the kindness of those who guide you. Thank Don Luigi [Guanella], Don Abrate and Maestro Macagno. If you have any special need, contact Don Luigi and he will tell me about it».
A second episode refers to a brief intervention by Don Guanella during a planning council held in Valdocco. On that occasion, the Lombard priest proposed the composition of a book for Catholic Readings, also proposing the scheme he considered valid in view of the propagation of the faith.
The third episode is dated Friday, July 8, 1875. That evening, after the traditional 'good night' given to the boys, Don Bosco turned to Don Guanella, in his capacity as director of the San Luigi Festive Oratory, with these words: "Well, are you understood? And do you think these young people are good?" "Yes," Don Guanella replied, "not bad. Oh, although I don't know how to speak Piedmontese as is customary in these festive oratories, they understand me, they pay attention; I give many examples." "Here," Don Bosco added, "if you want to please and do good by preaching to these children, you must, yes, bring examples, parables, similes."
The fourth episode involving Don Guanella is dated Thursday, January 13, 1876. That afternoon, after lunch, Don Bosco stopped to talk with a guest about events that had occurred in the early years of the oratory. Other priests joined in listening to their conversation, including our Don Guanella. The saint from Turin recounted that in December 1853 a collapse, caused by heavy rain, knocked down the wall of the college under construction. After the accident, work resumed and the college building was completed the following October. At this point Don Guanella intervened, asking Don Bosco why he wanted to occupy the newly rebuilt building so soon, considering that the house was still too damp. Don Bosco replied that he went to occupy it to set an example to the boys, who then followed him happily. He also spoke of other collapses that had occurred in various areas of the oratory. Don Guanella intervened again with these words: "What a pity not to have had a premeditated plan and to have grown little by little, following that plan." Don Bosco concluded: "It was necessary to adapt to many circumstances and needs, to special and pressing needs."
A final reference to Don Luigi Guanella, who is met among the lines of the Chronicle, concerns the letter that Don Bosco wrote to Don Barberis, Don Rua and Don Guanella, after the papal audience of 16 April 1876. In the letter (full text in the box) sent to our, Don Bosco communicated the Pope's thanks for the work undertaken by the Salesians and his blessing on all the young people on the journey. He then concluded the letter: "Dearest Don Luigi, work willingly, divine grace will not be lacking. Calm, patience and courage. Love me in Jesus Christ and believe me. Most affectionate friend, priest Giovanni Bosco". Another reference to Don Guanella also comes from a report made by Don Barberis to Don Bosco while the latter was in Rome. It says that he had to replace Don Luigi in the direction of the Trinità college in Mondovì, due to the worsening of the illness of his mother Maria Bianchi, who died in Campodolcino, shortly after her son's return from Turin, on 18 September 1879.