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Salesian spirituality is a rich vein of experience in the church which came into focus through the
optimistic humanism of St Francis de Sales (1567 -1622)It is an approach based on loving
kindness and a gentleness that suits itself well to the work of parenting and education. Francis
believed that God was close to each person in their ordinary lived experience. The habits of
practical care for others were in Francis' mind a gateway into a deeper awareness of an ever
present loving Father. In that sense even busy parents, teachers and youth workers can become
contemplatves in action.
Don Bosco adopted Francis as the patron of all his work and shared the insight that in the ordinary
ups and downs of work with young people one could find the presence and therfore the strength of
God to persevere in working with loving kindness for the young.
Don Bosco drew this approach somewhat reluctantly into a 'Preventive System' This approach is
based on being there with young people as a friend, something he termed 'assistance.' These older
approaches at expressing the spirit in which Don Bosco worled need to be seen in the light of more
contemporary reflections such as 'A window on Salesian spirituality.' The use of the word RUAH:
spirit and the need to bring the more general reflections on spirituality into a form of practical
evaluation of the way that the Salesian spirit moves between as sense of a home, church, school
and playground. This approach can be seen in the monthly pattern of recollection used by SDBs.

Much more needs to be said and written on this topic and new insights will always be welcome on
this web site.'

A Picture of The Preventive System and RUAH values in a Salesian school.....Click here