Why do we call ourselves the "Salesian" University? Isn't it Don Bosco's University? To understand this, we need to go back to December 8, 1844, when the Piedmontese educator inaugurated an oratory dedicated to this saint in the outskirts of Turin. Describing that historic day, Don Bosco explains the reasons why he chose the protection of the Savoyard saint.
The first reason was seemingly fortuitous: the portrait of St. Francis de Sales adorned the entrance of the place he was taking possession of. The second, more personal reason is explained with some redundancy: "Because the part of our ministry that required great calm and gentleness, we placed ourselves under the protection of this saint, so that he might obtain from God the grace for us to imitate his extraordinary gentleness and the winning of souls".
Thus, the great Savoyard bishop, born in 1567, died in 1622, proclaimed a Doctor of the Church, became the protector of an educational and pastoral work destined for great development. A few years later, Don Bosco's collaborators would take the name "Salesians," the first nuns would often be called "Salesian" nuns, the lay collaborators "Salesian" cooperators, the official publication Salesian Bulletin, the first missionaries "Salesians," the "Salesian" Athenaeum, and the "Salesian" University.
One detail must not be forgotten. During his mission in Chablais, Francis de Sales invented Catholic journalism. This is why from January 24 to 26 of this jubilee year, several thousand journalists and communicators will be in Rome to cross the Holy Door, meet Pope Francis, and participate in various initiatives and events. On this occasion, the Basilica of St. John Lateran will host the relic of the saint, the Patron of journalists.
For our University, St. Francis de Sales remains a source of inspiration and a master of culture in the broadest sense of the word: philosophy, theology, educational sciences, letters, and especially communication sciences.
Morand Wirth
Faculty of Theology