The Spiritual Exercises, a structured form of retreats popularized by St. Ignatius of Loyola, were a cornerstone of St. John Bosco’s apostolic vision and the mission of the Salesian Congregation he founded. In Don Bosco’s era, the term “Spiritual Exercises” was the prevalent expression for organizing retreats—periods of prayer, meditation, and instruction aimed at fostering spiritual renewal. The prominence of this practice in the early Salesian Constitutions reveals how seriously Don Bosco took the preaching of retreats as a means of guiding souls toward God. This article explores verifiable historical evidence from the Salesian Constitutions and early practices, highlighting the preaching of the Spiritual Exercises as one of the original aims of the congregation. By examining Don Bosco’s writings and the congregation’s early documents, we aim to underscore its enduring significance as a charismatic element of the Salesian mission.

The Spiritual Exercises in Don Bosco’s Vision

In the 19th century, the Spiritual Exercises were widely recognized as a powerful method for leading retreats, combining doctrinal teaching with meditative practices to inspire conversion and piety. For Don Bosco, preaching these retreats was both a personal devotion and a vital apostolic work, particularly for youth and working-class adults. His commitment to this ministry was shaped by his formation at the Convitto Ecclesiastico in Turin, where he was influenced by the pastoral zeal of Fr. Giuseppe Cafasso and the Jesuit tradition of retreat preaching. Don Bosco adapted the Ignatian model to make the Exercises accessible, emphasizing practical spirituality that resonated with the people he served.

This priority is evident in the earliest drafts of the Salesian Constitutions, which Don Bosco began developing in 1858. In these foundational texts, the preaching of the Spiritual Exercises is explicitly listed as one of the congregation’s primary aims, reflecting its central role in the Salesian mission to evangelize and nurture faith.

The Original Aims of the Salesian Congregation

The 1858 draft of the Salesian Constitutions outlines five aims for the nascent society, uniting clerics and lay members in a shared mission. These aims, summarized, were:

1. To unite members in the pursuit of a life of perfection.
2. To perfect themselves through the practice of internal and external virtues in imitation of Jesus Christ.
3. To gather poor and abandoned youth, especially on holidays, to instruct them in religion.
4. To provide hospitality in boarding houses to instruct youth or teach them a trade or profession.
5. To support the Catholic religion among adults, particularly the working classes, by preaching the Spiritual Exercises and distributing good books.

The fifth aim underscores the preaching of the Spiritual Exercises as a key apostolic activity, alongside the diffusion of good literature. These elements, inherited from Don Bosco’s experience at the Convitto, highlight his dedication to spiritual renewal and evangelization beyond the oratory, reaching both youth and adults through structured retreats.

Evolution of the Constitutions

The emphasis on preaching the Spiritual Exercises remained consistent throughout Don Bosco’s lifetime. In the definitive Constitutions approved by the Holy See in 1874, and their Italian translation of 1875, the aims were slightly reorganized, with fostering ecclesiastical vocations added as a fifth aim. The original fifth aim was divided into two points:

• Article 6: Supporting the Catholic religion by preaching the Spiritual Exercises to inspire conversion and piety, especially in villages where such spiritual needs were keenly felt.
• Article 7: Promoting the diffusion of good literature.

Article 6 specifically states: “The need to support and sustain the Catholic religion is being keenly felt among the Christian people, particularly in the villages; the Salesians will therefore commit themselves with zeal to preach the Spiritual Exercises so as to move those who, desiring conversion, take part in them.” This directive affirms the apostolic importance of retreat preaching as a means of guiding souls toward spiritual growth.

Practical Implementation in the Early Congregation

The Salesian Constitutions not only established preaching the Spiritual Exercises as an aim but also provided practical guidelines to ensure its fulfillment. The 1875 Italian translation mandates that every member, as part of their formation, should compose a course of sermons and meditations for the Exercises. This requirement was particularly emphasized for those preparing for priestly ordination, with an focus on creating content suitable for youth and the broader Christian faithful.

Historical records from the Archives of the Salesian Generalate confirm that this directive was diligently followed. Preserved courses of Spiritual Exercises include those composed by early Salesians such as Fr. Giovanni Bonetti (ACS B 517), Fr. Giulio Barberis (ACS B 508), Fr. Giovanni Cagliero (ACS B 485), and Fr. Giuseppe Bertello (ACS B 514). These documents, though largely unstudied, provide valuable insight into the spiritual climate of the young congregation and its commitment to retreat preaching as a core ministry. The Exercises were carefully crafted to meet the needs of their audiences, blending doctrinal instruction with accessible meditations to foster faith and moral development.

Roots in Broader Spiritual Traditions

The prominence of the Spiritual Exercises in the Salesian Constitutions reflects influences from Don Bosco’s era. The statutes of the Amicizia Sacerdotale, inspired by Jesuit Fr. Nikolaus von Diessbach, encouraged priests to compose courses of missions and Spiritual Exercises to spread the Gospel. Similarly, the Constitutions of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, active during Don Bosco’s time, included a directive for members to prepare meditations and instructions for preaching the Exercises according to the Ignatian method. Don Bosco’s adoption of this practice aligns his congregation with these traditions, tailored to the Salesian focus on youth and the working classes.

Continuity and Change in the Constitutions

The commitment to preaching the Spiritual Exercises as an aim of the Salesian Congregation was included in the Constitutions until 1972. However, following the Special General Chapter of 1971, the text adopted ad experimentum, and later the definitive Constitutions of 1984, removed both the reference to preaching the Exercises as an aim and the requirement for members to compose a course of Exercises. However, the commitment to this ministry remains evident.  The Constitutions and Regulations of the Salesians of Don Bosco, in Article 42, second last paragraph, make a reference to this ministry, stating: “In retreat houses we provide for the Christian formation of groups, especially of young people.” This invites Salesians today to see setting up retreat houses and providing Christian formation to all people, especially youth, not as something distant from the Salesian charism but as something that was close to the heart of Don Bosco and very much in line with the Constitutions.

An Encouragement to the Salesian Family

The preaching of the Spiritual Exercises, understood as leading retreats, was a cornerstone of the Salesian mission from its earliest days, as evidenced by Don Bosco’s Constitutions and the preserved works of pioneers like Fr. Giovanni Bonetti, Fr. Giulio Barberis, Fr. Giovanni Cagliero, and Fr. Giuseppe Bertello. This practice remains a powerful expression of the Salesian charism, calling members to guide souls – especially youth – toward God through prayer and reflection. All members of the Salesian Family, particularly those in formation, are urged to embrace this apostolic legacy by diligently preparing meditations and sermons for preaching serious spiritual retreats. Those in formation are especially called to imbibe this mission deeply and to inspire those under their care to recognize and respond to this call, ensuring that Don Bosco’s vision of being a sign and bearer of God’s love continues to bring the transformative grace of the Spiritual Exercises to a new generation.

(The article is prepared with the insights from Notes for a ‘Spiritual History’ of Father John Bosco by Giuseppe Buccellato SDB, translated by Ivo Coelho SDB)