(ANS - Rome) - The Association of Italian Ecclesiastical Librarians organized a conference entitled "Ecclesiastical libraries, a laboratory of new humanism" that took place on 23-25 ​​June 2015 in Erice (Trapani). Fr Francesco Motto SDB, a member and former director of the Salesian Historical Institute in Rome, was in attendance.

With a view to the 2016 National Conference to be held in Florence "In Jesus Christ the new humanism", the Association, chaired by Bishop Francesco Milito of Oppido-Palmi Mamertina, took the view that ecclesiastical libraries should stock the literary works of those who make books one of the principal means of apostolate and make them available to the public.

Among the experiences of publishing and libraries as part of the pastoral activity of the Church, for the section on the contemporary Church, the work of the Salesians was chosen as a paradigm. In a speech entitled "Don Bosco and the Salesians: writers and editors for the new Italy", Professor Motto spoke about the figure of Don Bosco, writer and publisher, and about the organization and production of Salesian publishers in Italy during the time of Fr Michael Rua (SAID-Buona Stampa), Fr Paolo Albera (SEI) and Fr Pietro Ricaldone (SEI).

In conclusion, Fr Motto said: "Don Bosco’s humanism was rooted in the Christian vision of man living sub specie aeternitatis, and was continued in the mind of Salesians. Like their Founder they were convinced that a true education was not possible without openness to the transcendent, and also that a living faith was preferable to a purely speculative religion. For them religion is rooted in history and daily life and built on culture, work and dignity, with space given to sport, music, theatre, spontaneous relationships, and group experience”.

"In the aftermath of the Second Vatican Council,” he added, “with the well-known formula 'Educate by evangelizing and evangelize by educating' the Salesians have tried to synthesize the two traditional educational goals of their activity, 'honest citizen and good Christian', which cannot be separated or juxtaposed. This is a part of Salesian history that for the most part remains still to be clarified and completed, based on documentary sources which it is hoped can be available soon. "

Published 29/06/2015