This word indicates the reality of interpersonal relationships, and a certain style in keeping with them, amongst those who possess the "Salesian spirit," which is precisely a "family spirit."

This term is continually used in the Salesian tradition to indicate in a generic way, the links which exist between the Salesians, Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians, co-operators, pupils and past pupils.

After close examination one reaches the conclusion that the concept of "family" is applied in a different way to these various groups according to the nature of their relationship. The co-operators, for example, belong to the Salesian family, because both as an association and individually they assume the responsibility of fulfilling in the world the mission which the founder has given them, in union with the Congregation, and in accordance with its spirit. The pupils and past pupils on the other hand belong to the Salesian family for other reasons, especially, the fact that they are or have been the recipients of Salesian education ,which ought to spur them on to various types of apostolic activity.

A) THE EXISTENCE OF DON BOSCO’S FAMILY UP TO THE PRESENT DAY AND THE PROBLEM IT POSES

The problem has its origin in a rather complex historical fact. In order to fulfill his vocation to save poor and abandoned youth, Don Bosco sought a wide grouping of apostolic forces, linked together in the unity of a "family."

153 1. Don Bosco, charismatic founder

In founding the Salesians, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, and the Co-operators to work together in his mission, and according to his spirit, Don Bosco gave the Salesian Congregation a special role.

From 1841 to 1888, he showed a singleness of purpose which can be traced through a wide spectrum of different decisions. This was to unite all who agreed to work with him in a vast ensemble. "In these difficult times we must unite..."¹ "Unity amongst ourselves and with the Congregation... Let us be united in our common aim, and in using the same means to achieve it... Let us be united in a single family by the bonds of fraternal charity which will stimulate us to help and support one another in our work for others."²

This drive towards reunion and communion even during Don Bosco’s lifetime took on different forms according to the degree of participation and the types of activities which the members undertook. Summarizing we can cite: the work of the Oratory of St. Francis of Sales; after 1850 participation in different ways in the work of the Salesian Society from its origins (1855 to 1858); participation in a manner that was juridically acceptable, though not clearly, defined, nor in fact realized by "external members" "affiliated" to the society between 1864 and 1874; spiritual union with the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians through the person of the Rector Major from about 1872 till the start of the 20^th century; and finally, from 1874 participation as Co-operators, lay or ecclesiastical.

Don Bosco expressed his plan in a well-known passage: "The Union of Salesian Co-operators is a very important association in our eyes. It is the soul of our Congregation, and serves as a link whereby we can do good together with the people who live in the world. There exists the Salesian Congregation for those who wish to consecrate their lives to God through religious profession. There is the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians for girls who wish to follow the Salesian way of life. Now we need friends and benefactors in the world who live the Salesian spirit whilst remaining in their own families. This is what the Salesian co-operators do. They help us in our needs, and support us in our difficulties. They collaborate with us in our undertakings for the glory of God, especially when we lack personnel or funds. The number of these co-operators must grow as much as possible."³

There is another aspect that completes Don Bosco’s view of the co-operators. It places them in the context of the local church whilst remaining faithful to the Salesian spirit. "I have studied a great deal the question of the foundation of the Salesian co-operators," Don Bosco is reported as saying to Don Lemoyne on 16^th February 1884. "Their true object is not to help the Salesians but to aid the Church, the bishops, the parish priests, under the general direction of the Salesians, in works of charity —such as catechetics, the education of the poor, etc.

Helping the Salesians means helping in one of the numerous apostolates existing in the Catholic Church. It’s true that we shall call upon them whenever we have need, but they are instruments in the hands of the bishops... we should not be jealous of our Salesian co-operators because they, belong to the diocese, and all parish priests together with their parishioners ought to be co-operators."⁴

2. The different groups and their history: awareness of a Salesian common good and of real unity

a) Those belonging to the Salesian family "in the strict sense"

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1. Co-operators. An awareness of the fact that the co-operators belong to the Salesian family has always been substantially present in the course of our history, though a certain amount of difficult was entailed in establishing this juridically. Through the enlightening grace of God, the co-operators are called to share in the mission of the founder, according to their different states in life, and also to share his spirit.

This awareness is found in the Regulations of the Association: "The association has as its primary end, the active life of charity towards one’s neighbor and especially, young people in need."⁵ The same fields of apostolate are proposed for the co-operators as for the Salesian Congregation to which they wish to be associated.⁶ "The members of the Salesian Congregation will consider all co-operators as brothers in Jesus Christ and turn to them for help... With equal liberty, the co-operators shall have recourse to the members of the Salesian Congregation."⁷

Plus XII on 12 September 1952, in his discourse to the co-operators on the occasion of their 75^th anniversary affirmed their Salesian identity: "Salesian co-operators, effective auxiliaries of Catholic Action... new providential movement of catholic laity... Deeply permeated by the Salesian spirit... men and women who fully live the Salesian ideal... The requirements of your manifold work oblige you to attend jealously to your interior life, that life which the wisdom of the saint of action provided for, when to you, no less than to his twofold family of Salesians and Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, he gave a rule of spiritual life destined to form you - whilst not living the common life - to that internal and external religious spirit suited to one who is striving for the perfection of Christian charity."⁸

Today the co-operators show their clear awareness of belonging to the Salesian family in their "message to the members of the Special General Chapter:" "Fully aware of belonging to the one Salesian family, because of our common founder, our aims, the principal object of our apostolate, our sharing of spiritual goods, and the same superiors."

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2. The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. The events of the period 1872-1969 bear witness to changes in the juridical forms of the relationship of the Salesian Congregation with the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians - passing from dependence on the Rector Major to their autonomy. They also reveal the preoccupation of Don Bosco, his successors, and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians too, that even with these variations, it should always be possible to safeguard and nourish the particularly Salesian form of the spirit of the gospel for the mission to which they are called.

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3. Other members. Other religious or secular institutes (e.g. the Volunteers of Don Bosco) or organized groups which, in harmony with the inspiration of Don Bosco, are called to fulfill his mission in accordance with his spirit, belong to this family in the strict sense.

1 - Pupils and Past pupils. The way in which the Pupils and the Movement of Past Pupils belong to the Salesian family stems ordinarily as has already been indicated, and above all from the fact that they are or have been the recipients of our education in an atmosphere in which the family spirit prevails. Educators should ensure that these ties are lasting. The Declaration on Christian Education is of the same mind: "Even after students have graduated, their teachers should continue to assist them with advice and friendship, and also by establishing special groups genuinely "inspired by the spirit of the Church."⁹ This is what our past pupils are asking of us and what the present World Confederation of the Past Pupils of Don Bosco intends.¹⁰

It is to be hoped that within the movement for the past pupils, as a result of the education they have received, those who are inclined and gifted that way should become organized as co-operators or members of apostolic groups so as to participate in the spirit and activity of the Salesian family in appropriate apostolates within their local church.

2. Those well-wishers and benefactors who have some connection with Salesian work can also be said to belong to the Salesian family ‘in the broad sense.’

3. Present day needs cause the problem of unity and communion to be posed in fresh terms

a) The view of the Special Provincial Chapter

These Chapters in general have asked for a renewed effort on the part of Salesians in promoting the greater unity and closer collaboration between those who share in the mission and the spirit of Don Bosco.¹¹

b) The ecclesial reality of the Salesian family

In fact, the background to the activity of the Salesian family today and of which its members should be aware, consists in this:

• that the Salesian family is an ecclesial reality which becomes a sign and witness of the vocation of its members through their special mission according to the spirit of Don Bosco;
• in line with the Church’s teaching about herself - the Salesian family is an expression of communion consisting of different ways of serving the people of God, and integrating various vocations, so as to show forth the richness of the founder’s charism,
• the Salesian family develops an original spirituality, charismatic by nature, which enriches the whole body of the Church and becomes a particular model of Christian pedagogy.

The Salesian family, therefore, viewed within the mystery of the Church must define its identity, its mission and its form, in the light of the essential dimensions of the Church. This requires that we speak of vocation, mission, witness, communion, historicity, and permanent renewal, as being fundamental components of this family.

c) The signs of the times

The extraordinary extent and complexity of youth problems today stimulate our zeal to accentuate the redistribution of the forces at work in this sector, and to improve their mutual collaboration. This is not simply a question of a "strategy of action" at a human level, but of building the future together in the life of the gospel, in the dynamism of Christian hope¹² under the impulse of the action of God who is constructing his kingdom in human history.¹³