1 Autobiographical character of the Memoirs of the Oratory

2 The Oratory as a focal point 1 Above all, DB did not want to outline his own life story, Above all, DB did not want to outline his own life story, but the story and identity of the Oratory: but the story and identity of the Oratory: –Initial inspiration –Those for whom it existed –Positive and negative circumstances –Distinctive elements of method and mission –Characteristic features

3 The Oratory as a focal point 2 The MO is different from earlier accounts The MO is different from earlier accounts –These concentrated on the motives and events tied to a Catechism classes which became the Oratory: purpose, spelling out, activities, workers, results; –They were meant for authorities and the public, supporters and benefactors; –Without any connection with the authors inner story.

4 The Oratory as a focal point 3 In the MO, at the level of narrative, the story of the Oratory is connected with the inner story In the MO, at the level of narrative, the story of the Oratory is connected with the inner story –of the narrator –and of disciples who would continue the work from the past and take it forward from the past and take it forward And it has a normative function And it has a normative function

5 The interlocuters in the discourse 1 The dear Salesian children The dear Salesian children forbidding that these things be made public before my death or after forbidding that these things be made public before my death or after Then: Then: –Handing on an intimate family heritage (shared by author and readers) –Formation and animation, a mission, identity, method.

6 The interlocuters in the discourse 2 DB brings in those who benefit from these adventures in the Memoirs: He has them play an active part DB brings in those who benefit from these adventures in the Memoirs: He has them play an active part –In as much as they are disciples who share the perspective in which he places the story of how he sets up an identity; –In as much as they are interlocuters whom he asks to accept his view of the facts (historical and personal, real and poetic) The presence of the readers condition DBs narrative (he dialogues with them) The presence of the readers condition DBs narrative (he dialogues with them)

7 Purpose for writing 1 It will be a record that will help people overcome problems by learning from the past It will be a record that will help people overcome problems by learning from the past it will serve to make known how God himself has always been our guide it will serve to make known how God himself has always been our guide it will give my sons some entertainment, to read about their fathers adventures… it will give my sons some entertainment, to read about their fathers adventures…

8 Purpose for writing 2 The motivation for writing is more necessary and internal to the text than something literary The motivation for writing is more necessary and internal to the text than something literary He refers to things outside the text as is characteristic of this genre (autobiography) He refers to things outside the text as is characteristic of this genre (autobiography)

9 Purpose for writing 3 5 reasons for autobiographical writing: 5 reasons for autobiographical writing: 1.Requests from authority and others, 2.Defence, 3.Affirming identity, 4.Transmitting witness, teaching, values, exemplary experiences, 5.Approach of old age: recovering the past

10 Purpose for writing 4 These reasons urge DB to direct his writing by: These reasons urge DB to direct his writing by: –A complex, articulated and evocative construction, –that goes beyond the description of the Oratory (a work with its own purposes and method); –It is a kind of theological-ideological viewpoint, –that sets the birth of the Oratory within an inner and spiritual (vocational and missionary) range of events

11 The beginning of the account 1 The MO begins with DBs birth: The MO begins with DBs birth: –A providential perspective on history –A personal event is filled with meaning that transcends its particular details. Beyond the writing there is God who governs the individuals and societys history with a view to salvation, giving rise to vocations and inspiring journeys', Beyond the writing there is God who governs the individuals and societys history with a view to salvation, giving rise to vocations and inspiring journeys', But there is also a human being telling the story But there is also a human being telling the story

12 The beginning of the account 2 Second beginning: the dream at 9 years of age (detailed and dramatic account) Second beginning: the dream at 9 years of age (detailed and dramatic account) Inserted into the text as the real beginning of memory for the Oratory Inserted into the text as the real beginning of memory for the Oratory He decides to break it up into subdivisions of a decade each He decides to break it up into subdivisions of a decade each

13 Symbolic events in the MO The dream at 9 years of age: The dream at 9 years of age: –Anticipates meanings, strategies, structures; –Offers the outline for rhetorical organisation of the MO according to the intentions of the author The encounter with Bartholomew Garelli: At the chronological and symbolic centre of the MO (2 decade, ch. 12) The encounter with Bartholomew Garelli: At the chronological and symbolic centre of the MO (2 decade, ch. 12) The orphan lad from Valsesia (3rd decade, ch. 7) The orphan lad from Valsesia (3rd decade, ch. 7) Concludes the narrative span already prefigured in the dream at 9 years of age…

14 The missing conclusion 3rd decade, ch. 8: narrative is broken, seems to vary with respect to the unity of the preceding composition. 3rd decade, ch. 8: narrative is broken, seems to vary with respect to the unity of the preceding composition. Plot and intrigue are lacking: Plot and intrigue are lacking: –A series of events ordered chronologically, but without the narrative weave, –And without the personal and intimate involvement of the earlier account; –narrative vignettes with less significance for the Oratory vocation (weak ending: Grigio).

15 Autobiographical steps 1 Autobiographies: effort to provide unity and meaning, historical sense, to experience Autobiographies: effort to provide unity and meaning, historical sense, to experience DB, starting from perspectives that guided him at the time DB, starting from perspectives that guided him at the time –Reconstruction of facts from the past attributing meaning to them –Reveals to us and himself how much he has been helped or prevented as he develops his oratorian calling –And how many experiences became part of his awareness and method

16 Procedimenti autobiografici 2 DB transforms the revisited experience into a resource which allows him to construct a spiritual and pedagogical way of knowing for his readers DB transforms the revisited experience into a resource which allows him to construct a spiritual and pedagogical way of knowing for his readers Complex dynamics of memory, selection and interpretation of facts, their organisation into a plot, according to some superior and meaningful unity Complex dynamics of memory, selection and interpretation of facts, their organisation into a plot, according to some superior and meaningful unity

17 Autobiographical steps 3 Filtering of events, in the reconstruction of a part of life around the unifying core of his Oratory vocation/mission Filtering of events, in the reconstruction of a part of life around the unifying core of his Oratory vocation/mission An awareness at a second level: the return to the steps he took in recognising meaningful connections and the harmonious outcome of the various elements An awareness at a second level: the return to the steps he took in recognising meaningful connections and the harmonious outcome of the various elements

18 Autobiographical steps 4 It is a work of self-formation, in which DB: It is a work of self-formation, in which DB: –perceives the events of the past in a different way and acts on them, i.e. reconnects them to the history of the Oratory i.e. reconnects them to the history of the Oratory And organises them around this unified meaning, And organises them around this unified meaning, –In fact gives new content to events experienced which did not have that global perception

19 Autobiographical steps 5 The process of SELECTION is put into place: The process of SELECTION is put into place: –With regard to FACTS Selecting those most significant for the overall meaning and discarding others Selecting those most significant for the overall meaning and discarding others –For their SIGNIFICANCE By interpreting them from a theolgocial point of view and according to concerns that moved him at the time By interpreting them from a theolgocial point of view and according to concerns that moved him at the time

20 Autobiographical steps 6 A process of ORGANISATION of events according to the weight given to each in the reconstruction of the overall unified design A process of ORGANISATION of events according to the weight given to each in the reconstruction of the overall unified design From this planning arises the plot, and the way it is woven to control the narrative strategy of his account

21 Autobiographical steps 7 A retrospective view revealing the intimate connection between events experienced at different periods in time (narrator's infancy, youth, maturity and present) A retrospective view revealing the intimate connection between events experienced at different periods in time (narrator's infancy, youth, maturity and present) He favours the storys point of arrival, gives meaning to all episodes by organising them into an intelligible whole He favours the storys point of arrival, gives meaning to all episodes by organising them into an intelligible whole

22 Autobiographical steps 8 At the conclusion of the narrative the text of the MO seems to us to be At the conclusion of the narrative the text of the MO seems to us to be –a continuous search for and highlighting of prefigured elements of the Oratorys characteristic features –in weaving an existence that the author feels is marked by a divine call (situations anticipating the Oratory; characters who represent the Oratorys style and method) (situations anticipating the Oratory; characters who represent the Oratorys style and method)