The First Missionary Dream (1872)

When negotiation started between the Government of Argentina ns a Don Bosco for a Missionary expedition, the meaning of a certain dream, or vision, which he had had years before, began to be clear to the mind of Don Bosco

This is how Don Bosco narrated it: “I Found myself suddenly transported into some wild and unknown region. The whole country around formed an immense, uncultivated plain, whose flatness was unrelieved by wither hill or mountain. I saw there, in that plain, immense crowed of men running hither and thither, men of ferocious aspect and of extraordinary stature, with bronzed, almost black complexions and long stiff hair. Their only garments were animal skins and which they wore hanging from the shoulders, and fro weapons each one carried a rude spear and sling.

These groups of men, scattered over the plain, seemed to be engaged in various occupations. Some were hunting wild animals, others were marching along brandishing large pieces of bloody flesh on the points of their spears; some of the groups were engaged in pitched battles amongst themselves; others had fallen into the hands of a company of soldiers in European dress. The ground all around was strewn with dead and dying men.

I stood aghast at this horrifying spectacle, and then, suddenly, from one end of the plain, there appeared a number of persons who were, as I guessed from their dress and way of acting, missionaries belonging to the various Orders of the Church, who drew near to preach the true religion of Christ. As they pass along, I scrutinized then very closely, but I did not recognize any of them. Fearlessly they walked into the midst of the savages, but these at the sight of them, seemed to be thrown into a diabolical fury. They fell upon then, slew and quartered them, and impaled large pieces of their still warm flesh on the points of their spars. After this, the former scenes were renewed - continual civil war and war with neighboring peoples!

After witnessing so many scenes of horror and bloodshed. I said to myself: ‘how can a people so brutal and ferocious even be converted to the true Faith? Almost immediately, in answer to my thought, I beheld away in the distance another band of missionaries who drew nearer and nearer to the savages. These new-comers were gay and joyful in their bearing, and were preceded by a large crowd of lively and cheerful boys.

I looked on with fear and trembling, for I felt certain that they were coming to sure death. I drew nearer and looked attentively at them and recognized in that missionary band our own Salesians. Those in front I knew quite well, not those who followed; but I recognized that they were all Salesians.

How has this come about? I asked myself; and I wanted to cry out to them to stop from approaching further. I expected at every moment to see them meet with the same fate that had befallen the former missionaries; but what was my surprise to see that, on their beholding them, a wave of joyful enthusiasm seemed to penetrate through all those savage tribes. They threw down their spears, changed their ferocious aspect, and went to receive the Missionaries with every sign of esteem and contentment.

Astonished at this sudden change, I was curious to see how it would all end. Looking attentively, I saw how the Missionaries were instructing and teaching the natives, who listened to them with great attention and interest. I saw how quick to learn they were, and how easily they sought at once to put it into practice.

I watched on and observed that the Missionaries began to recite the Rosary, and that the savages ran from every direction to take part in this prayer.

After a while, the Salesian made their way to the centre of that huge crowed and knelt down. The savages laid their arms at the feet of the missionaries and knelt down with them to pray. One of the Salesians then intoned the hymn: “Praise Mary, O Faithful Tongues” (Lodate Maria, O Lingue Fedeli). The savages took up the strain, verse after verse. Such was the volume of their lusty singing that it frightened me and I awoke.”