St. Luigi Orione wanted to “go walking ahead of the times and of the people”, so he
used the radio and phonographic records, with criteria and without fear, to evangelize and to be in
touch with religious, benefactors and friends.
The
Radio
Talking
on the radio was one of the new experiences of Don Orione during his second
stay in Argentina. He realized the great force and ranges of the radio,
expressing that “it is a media which can do a lot of good, so
that it will be convenient to use it more often”.
He
also invited his religious “to use everything provided by science to
spread the word of God and to do good”.
He even gave some concrete
indication about the radio wave, the setting up of the speakers and the
publicity. For example, he wrote:“Yesterday evening, feast
of Don Bosco, I spoke to the Argentines
on the radio, in Spanish (...) it is the first time
I talked on the radio, but it is a media which
can do a lot of good, so that it will be convenient to use
it more often.” [1]
Other examples:
“On August 29, Feast of the Our Lady of
Safe-keeping, I'll be with you in spirit, from Buenos Aires. I will talk to my
beloved Tortona people and pilgrims by radio, at 22 o’clock, when you are on
the Cathedral Square.
Understand
well this and prepare it, setting up speakers for the broadcast around the
Cathedral square. Transmission: L.S.X shortwave longitude - 28. 98
Regarding
what I have written to you,
at least it may be well to inform the public by street bands and to publish it
in newspapers, because anyone who has a radio can listen to it, if he desires.
Thanks be to God! Look, my sons, we can and must be updated, but without being modernist. We have to do
this: to use everything provided by science to spread the word of God and of
the good.” [2]
“This year, I will celebrate the Midnight Mass on board
the “Oceania”, and then I
will speak on the radio to all the Italians in
Argentina, but you will also listen to me from
Italy because the minister
of Press and Propaganda, His Excellency Mr. Alfieri, has ordered that the speech,
which will be short, can be listened to throughout
Italy. Thanks be to God! Praise and honour only to God!” [3]
At
the times, a radio was a luxurious device. So that, even though he wanted to
walk ahead of the times, he was concerned about the Poverty vow, criticizing
and warning about the lack of poverty. Ahead of times, but keeping the vows.
“In some houses, there is a radio. You tell me:
‘It’s been donated.’
In ...., a Jesuit
priest preached, he was called ‘the father who makes you laugh’. He met a Franciscan friar
who seemed liked Brother Elias.
The Franciscan friar pulled out a gold watch. And the Friar said: ‘Oh,
you know, it was given to me’. After a while, he pulled out a gold cigarette
box. The Jesuit said: ‘St. Francis, poor man!’ – ‘It was given to me by some Third Order women….’”[4]
“Providence is treating us well, because, we
can say we do not feel the pinch. Why a radio at home? You can tell me: “there
is one in Vatican…” The radio is a two-edged weapon.
We were in Varzi, a radio appeared for the
news and then the rubbish came up. [5]
In
a letter, he also ordered two priests to raffle a donated radio and not to use
it, because it “is not according to our spirit to have
the radio”.
“That
radio that I
saw there, which you said was
donated, raffle it as soon as possible, because it is not
according to our spirit
to have a radio. I
will tell you again, because of this, the Salesian Rector Major wrote to all his religious: now, you would become lax.
You will know, by others, the serious
words of the Argentine Episcopate
about having a radio. The bishops
specially turned to religious houses
and very seriously
spoke about them.” [6]
Other concrete indications, especially for formation houses: “RADIO. Confirmed are the decisions
taken in previous years. In Formation Houses where a radio may be necessary for
reasons of studies, it must be closed and the key kept by the superior.” [7]
The Phonograph Records and the Phonograph
Another new experience and a way to
be present among his religious, friends and benefactors was to “send” his voice
by phonograph records and “so spread the spirit
of good by the phonograph
too.”
He also gave some explanations about
the care of the records, the needles, how to use them, etc.
“Now, I will give a piece of novelty, which
you will be very pleased. Yesterday,
I recorded a phonograph record for the
usual meeting, on 18th March. After the speaker has finished, I will address everyone,
through the phonograph record. So, even
if I cannot be with my benefactors -
at least I'll be there in spirit and voice. Since
the phonograph record can repeat what I said around two thousand times - so I have spoken in a
way that it can also be used out of Genoa. I spoke about Charity.
If the phonograph records do not arrive
broken, (the whole speech is not one disc, two were necessary) and everything will be
fine, I can prepare others
for some special
occasions and so spread
the spirit of good by the phonograph too.” [8]
“I inform you that today, I have sent two phonograph
records by the same airplane that this letter goes. They are engraved on one
side and the other, and are numbered, it is a kind of hymn of charity, they
were improvised the other night, and in a few hours to have time to record and
send them by today’s airplane (...) there are two, very fragile. However, well
preserved, they can play two thousand times. So that, because I cannot be
present at the conference in Genoa, at least, the benefactors and friends will
hear my voice (...) I also send some needles attached, - they have been used a
little, but have been told that it is better.” [9]
“Two phonograph records were made yesterday,
although I was a bit tired and therefore my voice was not in the best
condition. However you will hear something of my spirit will find in those
words (...) I think that the suggestion (to record the phonograph records) was
an inspiration of God. If the phonograph records arrive well, you can use the
phonograph, even for other occasions.” [10]
Conclusion
Don
Orione knew how to read the signs of the times, to see the great potential of
the mass media and their impact in society. He used the mass media to preach
the Gospel as well as to be in touch with his religious, friends, pupils and
benefactors.
He
was not afraid to warn, to correct and advise his sons when the use of the mass
media was against the religious life.
[1] Letter to
Fr. Sterpi. Buenos Aires, 27th April 1935. Scritti 18, 60 and 18, 88.
[2] Letter
to Fr. Sterpi. Buenos Aires, 21st August 1935. Scritti 18, 85 and 18, 133.
[3] Letter to General Beaud and his wife, Mrs. Thea. Buenos
Aires, 16th December 1936. Scritti
116, 182 and 116, 187.
[4] Riunioni 99 (26th
August 1930).
[5] Riunioni 112 (1932).
[6] Letter
to Fr. Marian Szymkus and Fr. Michele Tiburzio. Buenos Aires, 4th
June 1936. Scritti 51, 44 and 51, 73.
[7] Riunioni 212 (1938).
[8] Letter
to Mrs. Queirolo. Buenos Aires, 29th February 22 1936. Scritti 9, 92 and 9, 98.
[9] Letter
to Fr. Sterpi. Buenos Aires, 26th February 1936. Scritti 19, 014 and 19, 026.
[10] Letter
to General Beaud. Buenos Aires, 29th Febraury 1936. Scritti 116, 176 and 116, 181.
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