200th Anniversary of the Dream of Saint John Bosco - €11.70

The Vatican joins the Salesian family in celebrating the dream St. John Bosco had when he was nine years old, a dream that guided his future steps, inspired his work and his charisma. The Vatican commemorative stamp for the anniversary, based on an oil painting created in 1999 by the artist Mario Bogani (1932–2016) and preserved in the Upper Basilica of the Don Bosco Temple at Colle Don Bosco (Castelnuovo Don Bosco, Asti), illustrates the vision of the 9 years old Giovanni as he himself recalled in his Memoirs: "In my sleep, I thought I was close to home... where a multitude of children were gathered, playing around... Some were laughing, others were playing, and quite a few were blaspheming. On hearing these blasphemies, I immediately threw myself into their midst, using my fists and words to silence them... At that moment, a venerable man appeared...his face was so bright that I could not look at him. He called me by name and ordered me to place myself at the head of those children, adding these words: 'Not with beatings, but with meekness and charity you must win these friends of yours. ...I saw beside him a woman of majestic appearance, clothed in a mantle, shining on all sides...he beckoned me to approach her, took me kindly by the hand and said to me: Look! As I looked I saw that those children had all fled, and in their stead I saw a multitude of kids, dogs, bears, and several other animals - Here is your field, here is where you must work. Make yourself humble, strong and robust: and what you see happening to these animals at this moment, you must do for my children...in due time you will understand everything." That dream was thus the origin of the vocation of the future founder of the Salesian Congregation and the inspiring source of his educational philosophy. For him, it was impossible to educate a young person through reason alone without someone who loved them, understood their problems, and supported them in resolving them.