PHOTO ARCHIVES
Córdoba, Spain - 1 December 1901 - In 1901, the Salesian Foundation was erected in the popular neighbourhood of St Lorenzo in Córdoba. The date chosen for the inauguration was the first Sunday of Advent and the ceremony foresaw the religious celebration, in the parish of St Lorenzo, and a party in the new house of the Salesians, started on land that was previously a vegetable garden. To inaugurate the house was the Superior of Salesian houses in Andalusia, Fr Pietro Ricaldone, future Rector Major.
Rome, Italy - 17 August 1879 - On the mandate of the Holy Father Leo XIII, Don Bosco took on the task of having a church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus built on the Esquiline Hill in Rome, where a new neighbourhood was being built at the time. The laying of the first stone took place in solemn form on 17 August 1879.
Balasar, Portugal - 1944 - Blessed Alexandrina Maria da Costa, together with her spiritual director, Fr Humberto Maria Pasquale, SDB, who encouraged Alexandrina to continue writing her diary, after noting the spiritual height she had reached. In 1944, Alexandrina became part of the "Pious Union of Salesian Cooperators", and placed the diploma in such a way that she could see it at any time. She offered herself to collaborate with her pain and with her prayers to the salvation of souls, especially the young.
Rome, Italy - 85 years ago, on a day like today, 1 April 1934, Don Bosco was declared a saint by Pope Pius XI. “The infallible successor of St. Peter, by solemnly whispering the words, then pronounced this formula - writes Fr Eugenio Ceria - we decree and define that Blessed Giovanni Bosco is a saint and we register him in the number of saints.” Fr. Pietro Ricaldone, Rector Major, writes in a message: “Vatican City, 1st April, at a quarter past ten. Alleluia! The Vicar of Christ has just proclaimed Don Bosco a saint. May he bless Turin, Italy and the world.”