Turin, Italy - 1886 - During the beatification and canonization process of Don Bosco, the theological censors asked: "When did Don Bosco pray?" The photograph of the saint entitled "Don Bosco on his knees" was taken in Turin in 1880 by photographer Michele Schemboche. It is the answer that testifies that Don Bosco was a man deeply of God, a man who gave his time to prayer. The photo shows Don Bosco kneeling, with his eyes fixed on the image of Mary and Jesus. The image has the canons of the time, but Don Bosco is perceived with a serene, spontaneous and natural face.

(ANS - Rome) - On Monday 20 January, in the "San Matteo" room of the General Command of the Guardia di Finanza in Rome, Giuseppe Zafarana, Commander General, General of the Army Corps, and Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians and Grand Chancellor of the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS), signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at ratifying the relationship between the two institutions and the creation of training courses of mutual interest.

Turin, Italy - 1886 - Don Bosco had a well-proportioned face. His gaze spoke. His face communicated and knew how to convey serenity and joy to all those around him. The photo we show was taken in Sampierdarena, Genoa, on March 16, 1886, by Gustavo Luzzati. Don Bosco was 71 years old at the time. According to scholars, in this photo, Don Bosco shows a serene and friendly smile and the tender and affectionate gaze of a father.

(ANS - Catania) - "It is possible to sell books in different versions and formats, but the problem of the (current) crisis is in the drop in the number of readers," said Fr Giuseppe Costa, a Salesian, professor and publishing expert, for ten years the director of the Libreria Editrice Vaticana, the Vatican publishing company, who discusses the current state of the book market in the Catholic world, amid challenges and new proposals.

Turin, Italy - January 2020 - On 11 and 12 January, at Colle Don Bosco and Valdocco, the IV meeting dedicated to the 2019/2020 course for departing summer missionaries was held, promoted by the Missionary Animation of the Province of Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta. The fourth appointment, aimed at young people preparing to live a summer mission experience, focused on deepening Salesian missionary spirituality and on the history of Don Bosco. On 11 January at Colle Don Bosco, the youths had the opportunity to learn about the various missionary charisms, especially the Salesian one; the history of Don Bosco was deepened in the Basilica. In the evening, there was a visit to the missionary museum with two young Salesians of the 150th Salesian Missionary Expedition, who offered their testimony. On 12 January, in Valdocco, Fr Silvio Roggia, SDB, member of the Formation Department, shared his long-time missionary experience, offering his thoughts, considerations, advice and reflections.

Turin, Italy - 1880 - The photograph that we propose is a work of art by the photographer Michele Schemboche, portraying Don Bosco seated in an armchair, taken in Turin in 1880. It is interesting to note that this image was the best known and most used throughout history and probably corresponds to the most solemn representation of Don Bosco. The photo, with a few modifications, has in fact become the official image of the Beatification and then of the Canonization of Don Bosco. Indeed, the painter A. Enrie was inspired by it. While corresponding to the iconography of the time, it did not however coincide with the image that Don Bosco had left imprinted in the eyes and hearts of his boys and those who had known him: of an affable, gentle priest, always with a smile on his face.