Don Bosco had already dreamt of and cultivated his Salesian Cooperators many years previously but he had to wait till the time was right before others of his era could grasp the idea of a movement made up of "laity and clergy together for the salvation of young people in danger."
When, in April 1876, Don Bosco went to Rome to submit the final draft, he accepted the Pope’s suggestion not to set up a separate institute for female cooperators but to merge them into a single formation. "They are by natural inclination more effective and enterprising than men. Excluding them, would deprive [the Association] of its most valuable help," said the Pontiff (MB XI 73-74).
Don Bosco welcomed the pope’s suggestion and amended the text. Pius IX granted the "Society or Union of the Salesian Cooperators" the indulgences that had been granted to the Third Order of Lay Franciscans and implicitly approved the Association in its juridical form.
Don Bosco’s creativity marked the style of the Salesian Cooperators from the beginning – they included teachers, sports coaches, theatre and music artists, catechists and mothers ... and in the course of these 140 years the Salesian Cooperators have faithfully followed the project of Don Bosco and have updated the legacy. Several figures of holiness have arisen among them, starting with Venerable Mamma Margaret and continuing with venerable Attilio Giordani and Edvige Carboni, Blessed Alexandrina da Costa and Giuseppe Toniolo and St Joseph Marello, Founder of the Oblates of St Joseph.
Now after 140 years the Salesian Cooperators are still people rich in humanity, baptized for the service of the Church and passionate contributors in the Salesian mission.
