Don Bosco believed education is a "matter of the heart, “he considered the basic building block of his educative spirit to be love but loving alone was not enough. He was adamant that the young people in his care should not only be loved but that they should also know that are loved. Therefore, love had to be given in a practical expression. This was done via the educative method that he himself called the “Preventive System”. Don Bosco ability to attract boys and helpers was connected to this system.
Preventive derives from a Latin word “Preaveniere” which means to Proceed or to Anticipate to go before
The three components of the Preventive System are reason, religion, and kindness. Music and games also went into the mix.
At the center of Don Bosco’s preventive system is “Pastoral Charity,” of which he wrote: “the practice of the preventive system is wholly based on the words of St. Paul who says, “Love is patient and kind, it is always ready to excuse, to hope and to endure whatever comes.” This love expressed in pastoral action, inclines the educator to love the young person in whatever state he may found, so as to lead him to the fullness of humanity which is revealed in Christ, to give him the awareness and the opportunity of living the life of an upright citizen as a son of God.
Coming from somewhat difficult situation in life, I really long to experience
In this seminary this love that Don Bosco speaks about.
For us seminarians, we live out the matter of the heart in the context of our community living. We are ready to help out at all times day and night. We learn how to express this being available in very practical ways. Sometimes it means going with less food so that our companions may have their share, at other times it means not playing a game as if we were a one man team. Again it may mean that we see the reasonableness of the rules and structures in the seminary.
