Une simplicité merveilleuse. Le laboratoire culturel salésien et la production de modèles de sainteté juvénile des origines à la veille de la Grande Guerre

In the history of the model of the "young saint" and its evolution, the 19" century represents a key turning point. When redefining their relationship with a society that was more and more distanced from religious proctice and Catholic morality, the church hierarchies saw the younger generations as providing a key voice in the elaboration of a project to reconquer people for Christianity. This project also sought to identify new exemplary models for young Catholics to imitate and venerate, In. this crucial transition period, the Piedmontese priest Jean Bosco and the Society of St Francis de Sales played a central role, creating a hagiographical proposal that was coherent but also adapted to the demands of different contexts. It was promoted through a widescale production of different forms of literature (biographies, ed-ifying tales, adaptations for the theatre, novels, etc.). This effort later received a definitive formal ratification with regard to worship, with the beatification of Dominique Savio in 1950, followed by his canonisation in 1954.