“Taking our name from a childhood group of St. John Bosco…”

St. John Bosco, who was born on the sixteenth of August in the year eighteen-hundred-and-fifteen, began his high school studies at Chieri at sixteen years of age. The few years he spent there were some of the happiest in the young Saint’s life, and also the occasion for the founding of the Società dell’ Allegria.

In this school, Bosco quickly gained the affection of his classmates. They adored his company and his stories, but they also came so that John could help them with their lessons.

Finally, as in Morialdo and Castelnuovo, they just came for no special reason. It was like a club of their own and they started calling it Società dell’ Allegria, a most appropriate name because each one was expected to bring in only those books, topics or games that would add to the general cheerfulness. Everything contrary was banned, especially anything not in accordance with God’s law. Whoever cursed, took the Lord’s name in vain, or carried on improper conversation could not remain a member and was forthwith expelled. John was the acknowledged leader of all these boys. By common consent membership in this club was dependent upon two basic conditions: (1) the avoidance of every word and deed unbecoming a Christian; (2) the exact fulfillment of one’s duties whether scholastic or religious.

Among the members of the Società dell’ Allegria there were some who were truly exemplary in their conduct. Outstanding were William Garigliano of Poirino and Paul Victor Braja of Chieri. The latter, son of Phillip Braja and Catherine Cafasso of Brusasco, was born in Chieri on June 17th, 1820. As a young boy, he was taught at home by his paternal uncle, Canon Hyacinth Braja. Later he attended the local public school where he endeared himself to his teachers and became a model of diligence and piety to his companions. He was gifted with a remarkable memory and discernment, and his prudence was beyond his years. At ten he had already expressed a desire for study for the priesthood. He enjoyed repeating sermons he had heard. One day, urged by his relatives and friends he memorized a complete discourse. Then, on a platform in the presence of a numerous gathering, like a veteran orator, he declaimed so gracefully as to elicit the admiration and applause of those who had purposefully come to hear him.

Often he would advise his friends and relatives to shun fashion and luxury, reminding them of the oft-repeated warning of their pastor, Father Fosco, namely, that luxury was a snare of the devil. Remembering what he had heard, he knew how to say the right thing at the right time to his friends and often he would take on the task of consoling the afflicted.

Don Bosco wrote: “Garigliano and Braja took part in games willingly but never at the expense of their school work. Both were devout and reserved and constantly gave me valuable advice. Every Sunday, after the usual Church services, we would go to St. Anthony’s church where the Jesuits conducted excellent catechism classes. The illustrative episodes were so well chosen that we never forgot them. During the week the Società dell’ Allegria met at the house of one of the members for discussion on various religious topices. Attendance at these meetings was optional. Garigliano and Braja were the most diligent. We passed some time in pleasant recreation, in discussion of religious subjects, in reading spiritual books, and in prayer. We advised one another and mutually pointed out personal faults we had observed or had heard others mention. Unconsciously, we were putting into practice the wise admonition: “Blessed is he who has a mentor,” or that of Pythagoras: “If you have no friend who will correct your faults, pay an enemy to do so.” Finally, the Holy Spirit says: “Better is an open rebuke than a love that remains hidden. Wounds from a friend may be accepted as well as meant, but the greetings of an enemy one prays against” (Prov. 27, 5-6). Moreover, not only did we gather in friendly meetings, but we also went often together to Confession and Communion.”

As soon as they heard he was coming home for the summer, they hurried well beyond the village limits to give him a rousing welcome and escort him home in triumpt. This became a yearly custom from then on and never lost its enthusiasm. It was at this time, too, that John introduced among them also his Società dell’ Allegria. Only those who had distinguished themselves for good conduct were admitted, and in the fall, those who had misbehaved, particularly by cursing or bad talk, were dropped from the roll.

John thoroughly enjoyed the company of his chums and was happy mixing with them, but, nevertheless, he strictly observed the maxim in Holy Scripture: “There is an appointed time for everything…” (Eccles. 3,1). He followed a well-ordered routine and did not deviate a fraction from the rules he imposed on himself. He had a scheduled time for his meetings with his Società dell’ Allegria, for the tutoring lessons he gave to friends who asked fo his help, for performing those chores for the family sheltering him; for his private devotions, his attendance at church and his reception of the Sacraments. Naturally there was also time for recreation. How it was spent, we have learned from Canon Joseph Caselle who as a youth together with seven other youngsters was boarding with a local priest, a teacher in the Chieri municipal school. The building, owned by a certain Torta, faced the Pianta cafe.

“Practically every night,” Joseph Caselle recalled, “especially on Winter evenings after supper, John Bosco used to spend some time with us whenever his work allowed it. We would all wait for him in the hallway, or if the weather was good, in the courtyard. I can’t tell you how happily we swarmed around him when he appeared. And he, always full of fun, would start us off laughing with a joke. Always ready to oblige he would launch out with some charming and yet edifying story; he was able to keep us entranced for several hours without our being aware of it. Sometimes he would repeat some catechism lessons or explain them. Occasionally he would ask in a nice way if we had been to confession and were behaving ourselves. Just because we knew it would please him, we did receive the Sacramants more often than was then customary. So when we told him that we had been to confession, he was delighted, and he would encourage us to persevere in our good spirit. We were actually ready to do anything for him. No matter how late, we were quite reluctant to leave him.

Taken from the first volume of the American Edition of “The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco,” by Giovanni Battista Lemoyne, S.D.B.
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