THE APOSTLE OF YOUTH
sexes, the boys tutored by the Salesian Fathers, and the girls by the Salesian Sisters.
A question arises here: one is constrained to ask, Where did the human resources come from? We grant that Don Bosco was an instrument of miraculous power; but such stupendous works, the building of magnificent churches and basilicas, the construction and furnishing of immense groups of costly buildings, the support of thousands of professors and workmen and children, and the princely subsidies necessary for foreign missions—all this points to money—money unlimited, and ever at hand in the hour of need!
And the judgment is a correct one; there was and is such an inexhaustible treasury! and it is found in the great hearts and generous purses of the noble army of Salesian Co-operators—the Third Order of St. Francis of Sales—"the backbone of the whole spiritual enterprise of Don Bosco," as a Salesian author has styled this union of magnanimous collaborators of the Society during its activities of seventy years.
My readers will not be surprised to learn that this world-wide Society of Salesian Co-operators, now numbering hundreds of thousands of all ranks of society, had as lowly an origin as the First and Second Salesian Orders of Don Bosco. From the beginning of the Oratory numbers of Turin women gave their services to "Mamma Margaret" as co-workers for Don Bosco's children, willingly washing and mending their garments;
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