austraLasia 1385
A taste of two tales -only available here
ROME: 10th January 2006 -- Fr Teresio Bosco needs little introduction to anyone. He has done for hundreds of thousands of readers today what Fr John Baptist Francesia did back in the immediate aftermath of Don Bosco's death - made the Saint known and loved all around the world. Fr Carlo Socol might need a little more introduction. A native of Udine, Italy, he completed his novitiate in China, after starting out at Chieri, in 1964. Silver-haired and smiling, he might be better known by his contemporiares in China for his financial acumen (he was provincial economer for a number of years) but amongst his other traits is the gift of being the popular historian. The fact that he started out at La Moglia in Chieri, and that Teresio Bosco gives us many insights into the actual Cascina Moglia experience not so far away in miles but distant in memory, somehow links these two popular historians - for the moment and for the purposes of this news item at least!
In the interests of 'fair dealing' and copyright, we cannot give you the full texts in English of the works these two authors are most recently responsible for, but if you go to Bosconet at www.bosconet.aust.com and scroll down to the 'special' section on the homepage, bottom-right, you can read some extracts from the recently translated Mamma Margaret, by Teresio Bosco, and the yet-to-be-published work on China's Salesian history by Carlo Socol.
The former work by Teresio Bosco is typical of his well-known style. Trying to deal with Mamma Margaret who wrote nothing becomes something of an evangelical pursuit. If the Gospels managed to do it for someone who only wrote a line in the sand, then Teresio Bosco could do it for Mamma Margaret! The trick was to find witnesses and sworn depositions. TB has dug these up - well, not literally - but they are there. Of course, to push the gospel metaphor a shade further, Mamma Margaret's early days are a bit like the Infancy narratives; TB's imagination has to work overtime. But MM's life and work at the Oratory, now that's a different story, and you have a sample of this that you can take a look at.
In the case of Carlo Socol's as yet unnamed and unpublished work, he has beavered away in historical archives in China and at the 'Archivio Centrale' in Rome and put together what will be a true eye-opener for very many people. We know of Versiglia and Caravario. What we didn't know of, at least other than in whispers, were the many other wonderful Salesians who gave their lives for that fruitful mission. Fr Socol goes a bit further than that, exploring some understandings of Don Bosco's missionary dreams, but all those goodies will need to wait until he publishes, some time in February, during the Centenary celebrations in China. It will come out in Chinese and English. We will let you know at the time.
Two final points. The publication of the English version of Mamma Margaret? That depends, both for publisher and punctuality, on various discussions taking place. The other point is that the samples you have are 'work in progress' so if there are minor blemishes, no need for dismay. The final product will be according to Hoyle (and the intentions of the respective authors!)
VOCABULARY
According to Hoyle: in accordance with the recognised rules. It was originally a book of rules for cards and indoor games written in the 18th century, so historically appropriate to context!
_____________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For RSS feeds, subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/rssala.xml
A taste of two tales -only available here
ROME: 10th January 2006 -- Fr Teresio Bosco needs little introduction to anyone. He has done for hundreds of thousands of readers today what Fr John Baptist Francesia did back in the immediate aftermath of Don Bosco's death - made the Saint known and loved all around the world. Fr Carlo Socol might need a little more introduction. A native of Udine, Italy, he completed his novitiate in China, after starting out at Chieri, in 1964. Silver-haired and smiling, he might be better known by his contemporiares in China for his financial acumen (he was provincial economer for a number of years) but amongst his other traits is the gift of being the popular historian. The fact that he started out at La Moglia in Chieri, and that Teresio Bosco gives us many insights into the actual Cascina Moglia experience not so far away in miles but distant in memory, somehow links these two popular historians - for the moment and for the purposes of this news item at least!
In the interests of 'fair dealing' and copyright, we cannot give you the full texts in English of the works these two authors are most recently responsible for, but if you go to Bosconet at www.bosconet.aust.com and scroll down to the 'special' section on the homepage, bottom-right, you can read some extracts from the recently translated Mamma Margaret, by Teresio Bosco, and the yet-to-be-published work on China's Salesian history by Carlo Socol.
The former work by Teresio Bosco is typical of his well-known style. Trying to deal with Mamma Margaret who wrote nothing becomes something of an evangelical pursuit. If the Gospels managed to do it for someone who only wrote a line in the sand, then Teresio Bosco could do it for Mamma Margaret! The trick was to find witnesses and sworn depositions. TB has dug these up - well, not literally - but they are there. Of course, to push the gospel metaphor a shade further, Mamma Margaret's early days are a bit like the Infancy narratives; TB's imagination has to work overtime. But MM's life and work at the Oratory, now that's a different story, and you have a sample of this that you can take a look at.
In the case of Carlo Socol's as yet unnamed and unpublished work, he has beavered away in historical archives in China and at the 'Archivio Centrale' in Rome and put together what will be a true eye-opener for very many people. We know of Versiglia and Caravario. What we didn't know of, at least other than in whispers, were the many other wonderful Salesians who gave their lives for that fruitful mission. Fr Socol goes a bit further than that, exploring some understandings of Don Bosco's missionary dreams, but all those goodies will need to wait until he publishes, some time in February, during the Centenary celebrations in China. It will come out in Chinese and English. We will let you know at the time.
Two final points. The publication of the English version of Mamma Margaret? That depends, both for publisher and punctuality, on various discussions taking place. The other point is that the samples you have are 'work in progress' so if there are minor blemishes, no need for dismay. The final product will be according to Hoyle (and the intentions of the respective authors!)
VOCABULARY
According to Hoyle: in accordance with the recognised rules. It was originally a book of rules for cards and indoor games written in the 18th century, so historically appropriate to context!
_____________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For RSS feeds, subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/rssala.xml
