Congregation: Charismatic identity and Apostolic Passion #Don Bosco#

Don Bosco, by the initiative of God and the help of Mary, gave rise in the Church, the Salesian Congregation on 18 December 1859. It was the Spirit that shaped in him a heart filled with a great love for God and for his brothers and sisters, particularly the little ones and the poor.

The motto of the Salesian society is ‘Da Mihi Animas Cetera Tolle’ which means ‘Give me Souls take away the rest’. In these words Don Bosco expresses his passion for God and for the young, ready to sacrifice his life in order to carry out the mission entrusted to him. For don Bosco it was the Good Shepherd Jesus who was the source, model and an inspiration in his work as an educator and evangelizer.

In order to respond to the needs of the youth he founded the oratory in which he gave shelter to many poor and abandoned boys. Later, with the help of May Mazzarello he founded the Institute of Mary Help of Christians in which catered to the needs of the poor girls. Don Bosco was very famous among the common people and with the help of these people he founded the Association of the Salesian Cooperators.

The successors of Don Bosco getting into his shoes founded many other groups. And in this way this congregation has moved on.