Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology

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1 Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology Spring 2017 SP 2131 The Spiritual Accompaniment of the Young Emerging from Don Bosco s Experience and Writings 3.0 units [5 ECTS] Tuesday and Friday morning: a.m. Venue: Institute of Salesian Studies, 1831 Arch Street, Berkeley, CA Phone ext Intructor: Emmanuel Camilleri, SDB Appointment by doncamillosdb@yahoo.com Course Description The course offers insights on the traits of spiritual accompaniment that emerge from St. John Bosco's writings and his life experience. It also offers an outlook on those theological themes presented by Don Bosco to his young readers in his endeavor to accompany them on the path of salvation. Themes such as salvation, eschatology, ecclesiology, the sacraments, and the virtues, feature constantly in Don Bosco's writings. The course will also give an overview of the Saint's life experience, especially his spiritual experiences, his experience of God and of spiritual friendships. The course will also offer a section on spiritual direction/accompaniment, presenting the approach of various authors, starting from those that influenced Don Bosco to authors who are closer to us. Goals and Outcomes The principle learning goal of the students during this course will be to become well-versed in spiritual accompaniment as envisioned by Don Bosco and to obtain the necessary means to enhance their ministry of accompanying the young. The objective is to offer the participants to examine the writings of Don Bosco critically and in that way understand deeper his approach in spiritual direction/accompaniment. The students will also review

2 the spiritual writings that permeated during Don Bosco's century since this religious thought formed his mind and his personality. They will also have the opportunity to have a closer look at Nineteenth century, and the changes that it brought with it, changes that affected the religious and political context. Finally, students will be introduced to the various approaches of spiritual direction/accompaniment that emanate from various authors. This will enhance their knowledge on the subject. Methodology SP 2131 is primarily a course based on research. I will use presentations which will highlight the method employed by Don Bosco in accompanying the young. The lectures will be in the form of PowerPoint presentations. These presentations will be accompanied by a text which I will provide for you. The text coincides with the lectures and topics that will be covered in class and will help you to develop deeper the material provided. You will be provided with both primary and secondary sources which will help you to deepen your knowledge on Don Bosco, his century, his modus operandi, his approach, and his vision of spiritual accompaniment. Furthermore, a vast bibliography is provided to help you broaden your horizon on reading various authors and various critical editions on topics covered during the course. There will also be space during classes for group discussions, insights, comments, and reflection. The participants role Students have the most important role in making the course a success. They do this by creating a suitable learning environment. On my part, I would like to see you attend and participate in all the sessions. Naturally, if there is a grave impediment that keeps you from doing so, it would be greatly appreciated if you would communicate this to me either verbally (the preferred way), or by . You are also expected to participate in all the discussions since such discussions help to enhance all the ideas and experiences shared. Finally, you are also supposed to complete the requested readings and written assignments within the decided time frame. Students learning outcomes By the end of the course, you would have gained enough insights on Don Bosco s writings and approach, that you would be able to adopt his model of accompanying the young in today s world. You will also have gained new insights on the century in which Don Bosco lived and worked, a century that molded and formed his personality and his religious outlook. Furthermore, you will gain or enhance your skills in critical analysis of various of texts studied in class. This will be done mainly through your participation in class discussions and through a short, organized paper which you will be expected to present by the end of the course.

3 Assessment Besides your attendance and participation in class, your assessment will also be done on your class presentation and your final research paper. You will choose the theme. Your papers are expected to contain footnotes, as well as a short biography. Schedule The course SP2131 is scheduled on Tuesdays and Fridays during the 1st period ( am). The location will be in the classroom on the Third Floor, in the Le Conte building. Entrance is through 1831 Arch Street, Berkeley. Texts Bosco, Giovanni. Opere Edite, Prima Serie: Libri e opuscoli, 37 vols. (Roma: LAS, ).. The Biographical Memoirs of St. John Bosco, 16 volumes, edited by Diego Borgatello (New Rochelle, NY: Salesiana Publishers, ). This is the English translation of the first sixteen volumes from the Italian original. [Available in Institute of Salesian Studies library].. Memoirs of the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales from 1815 to The Autobiography of St. John Bosco, trans. Daniel Lyons, with notes and commentary by Eugenio Ceria, Lawrence Castelvecchi, and Michael Mendl (New Rochelle, NY: Don Bosco Publications, 1989). [Available in Institute of Salesian Studies library]. Braido, Pietro. Prevention, not Repression: Don Bosco s Educational System, trans. Vinicio Zuliani and Julian Fox (Bengaluru: Kristu Jyoti Publications, 2013). Camilleri, Emmanuel. The Spiritual Accompaniment of the Young Emerging from Don Bosco s Experience and Writings. Notes for for private use of the GTU students of the Spiritual Course SP2131. [Bound photocopy reader will cost around $40]. Lenti, Arthur. Don Bosco: History and Spirit, 7 vols. (Rome: LAS, ). [Available in Institute of Salesian Studies library]. Stella, Pietro. Don Bosco: Religious Outlook and Spirituality, 2nd rev. ed., trans. John Drury (New Rochelle (NY): Salesiana Publishers, 1996). [Available in Institute of Salesian Studies library]. Spirituality

4 Barry, William A. and William J. Connolly. The Practice of Spiritual Direction. 2nd ed., revised and updated. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers, Benner, David G. Sacred Companions: The Gift of Spiritual Friendship and Direction, Downers Grove, IL: Inter Varsity Press, Birmingham, Madeline and William J. Connolly. Spiritual Direction and the Development of Directors. Revised edition. Kansas City, MO: Sheed and Ward, Dictionnaire de Spiritualité, Ascétique e Mystique, Doctrine et Histoire, Paris: Beauchesne, Edwards, Tilden. Spiritual Director Spiritual Companion, Guide to Tending the Soul. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, Gratton, Carolyn. The Art of Spiritual Guidance. New York, NY: Crossroad, Historical Cognet, Louis. Histoire de la Spiritualité chrétienne. 3 vols. Paris : Aubier-Montaigne É ditions, Goffi, Tullo. La spiritualità dell Ottocento. Bologna: Édizioni Dehoniane, Hales, Édward É.Y. The Catholic Church in the modern world: a survey from the French revolution to the present. Garden City, NY: Image Books, Latourette, Kenneth S. Christianity in a revolutionary age: a history of Christianity in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. 5 vols. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, Pourrat, Pierre. La Spiritualité Chrétienne. 4 vols. Paris : Librairie Lecoffe, J. Gubalda et C ie, Éditeurs, Matthews, Ruper. The Popes: Every Question Answered. From Saint Peter to Pope Francis. New York: Metro Books, Course Outline

5 The course is divided in three parts. 1. The first part will take a brief overview of the historical context of the 19 th century - the century in which Don Bosco lived and worked. Don Bosco was a son of his century and therefore the language, the approach, the theology and especially the Church of this century, together with the historical events that were emerging in Europe and especially in Italy, influenced his thought and his modus operandi. 2. The second part will offer an overview of the dynamics of spiritual direction and spiritual accompaniment. Besides discussing some authors, this part will also highlight Don Bosco's own experience in both spiritual direction and accompaniment. This is done so that everything will be put into context, especially that which concerns the person of St. John Bosco. 3. The third and final part will give insights on Don Bosco's writings and present him as an emerging spiritual accompanier of the young. This part will take a look at some of his selected writings, particularly those addressed to the young and the emerging characteristics of spiritual accompaniment from these same writings.