【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2026 年1月28日羅馬慈幼總部訊】 ─ 當慈幼家庭準備於1月31日慶祝聖若望鮑思高瞻禮之際，一場豐富的視覺之旅即將開啟。該活動精心策劃了一系列100幅鮑思高神父的畫像，涵蓋了不同的歷史時期和藝術呈現。這些畫像包括早期的黑白照片、最早的傳統宗教畫像，以及各種現代繪畫和藝術演繹的作品。它們共同構成了一部生動的聖人傳記，講述了這位聖人如何繼續與世人，特別是年輕人對話。
鮑思高神父最早的照片以其寫實和簡樸而引人注目。它們展現了歷史人物的實象：一位勤勉工作的神父，目光炯炯有神，充滿慈父般的關懷。這些照片將虔誠與現實聯繫起來，提醒我們鮑思高神父並非傳說或理想化的人物，而是一位有血有肉的人，他曾與都靈的年輕人一起走在街頭。
隨後，流傳下來的傳統畫像在塑造幾代人對鮑思高神父的集體記憶中發揮了決定性作用。這些畫像通常描繪他面帶和藹的微笑，身邊圍繞著一群男孩，突顯了他的仁慈、熱情和牧靈之心。透過這些畫像，把他的使命傳播到世界各地，使他的面容在學校、堂區和慶禮院中廣為人知，並以言語無法觸及的方式傳遞著他的精神。
現代藝術的演繹開啟了新的視角。當代藝術家運用色彩、象徵意義、動態和情感，重新詮釋了鮑思高神父，使其形象與當今世界相契合。每一幅作品不僅反映了聖人的形象，也反映了藝術家自身的經歷和內心世界，展現了鮑思高神父對青年人的熱情如何歷久彌新，至今仍具有現實意義。在這些作品中，他顯得充滿活力、平易近人，且極具人性光輝：他不僅屬於歷史，更屬於現在和未來。
圖像擁有獨特的策勵力量。它們超越語言和文化，直抵人心，喚起人們的敬仰和效法。在每一張鮑思高神父的畫像背後，都站著同一個人物：一位充滿慈愛、樂觀、創造力、對天主信仰堅定不移，並終生致力於關懷青年，特別是最貧困和最弱勢青年的父親。
本著這種精神，社會傳播部門已將這些圖片上傳至Google雲端硬碟，供全球慈幼會團體、機構和數位平台廣泛使用，並邀請他們發揮創意。我們希望這些圖片能幫助年輕人認識鮑思高神父，不再把他視為遙遠的歷史人物，而是把他視為朋友、慈父和導師——一位了解他們生活、能與他們交流的人。
視覺遺產不應僅被視為裝飾品，而應被視為傳福音、教育和傳承的有力工具：它無聲卻雄辯地見證著世世代代，能夠激勵後世，幫助年輕人愛上青年主保鮑思高神父，以及他託付給教會和世界的夢想。
在此，謹向所有創作這些圖像、繪畫和設計的藝術家致以最誠摯的謝意。他們的靈感和創造力，塑造了鮑思高神父的視覺記憶，並透過傳承他的精神和使命，繼續激勵著一代又一代人。
100 Images of Don Bosco: Images that Inspire, Educate, and Keep His Dream Alive
(ANS – Rome –RMG, 28 January 2026) – As the Salesian Family prepares to celebrate the feast of Saint John Bosco on 31 January, a rich visual journey is being offered through a curated collection of 100 images of Don Bosco, spanning different historical periods and artistic expressions. The collection brings together early black-and-white photographs, the first traditional devotional images, and a wide range of modern paintings and artistic interpretations. Together, they form not merely an archive, but a living narrative of a saint who continues to speak to the world, especially to the young.
The earliest photographs of Don Bosco are striking in their realism and simplicity. They present the historical figure: a priest shaped by tireless work, a penetrating gaze, and a deeply fatherly presence. These images root devotion in reality, reminding us that Don Bosco was not a figure born of legend or idealization, but a man of flesh and blood who walked the streets of Turin alongside young people.
The traditional images that followed played a decisive role in shaping the collective memory of Don Bosco across generations. Often portraying him with a gentle smile and surrounded by boys, they highlighted his kindness, warmth, and pastoral heart. Through these images, his mission spread across continents, making his face familiar in schools, parishes, and oratories, and communicating his spirit in ways that words alone could not.
Modern artistic interpretations open a further perspective. Through color, symbolism, movement, and emotion, contemporary artists reinterpret Don Bosco for today’s world. Each image reflects not only the saint, but also the personal experience and inner vision of the artist—revealing how Don Bosco’s passion for young people remains vibrant and relevant. In these works, he appears dynamic, approachable, and profoundly human: a saint who belongs not only to history, but to the present and the future.
Images possess a unique power to inspire. They transcend language and culture, speak directly to the heart, and awaken admiration and imitation. Behind every image of Don Bosco stands the same figure: a father full of kindness, optimism, creativity, unwavering trust in God, and lifelong dedication to the young, especially the poorest and most vulnerable.
In this spirit, the Social Communication sector has made these images widely accessible through on the Google Drive, inviting Salesian communities, institutions, and Salesian digital platforms around the world to use them creatively. The hope is that these images will help young people encounter Don Bosco not as a distant historical figure, but as a friend, father, and guide—someone who understands their lives and speaks their language.
The visual heritage has to be seen more than a decoration. It should be seen as a powerful tool for evangelization, education, and memory: a silent yet eloquent witness capable of inspiring generations to come and helping young people fall in love with Don Bosco, the saint of the young, and with the dream he entrusted to the Church and the world.
A word of sincere gratitude is extended to all the artists who have created these images, paintings, and designs. Through their inspiration and creativity, they have helped shape the visual memory of Don Bosco and continue to inspire generations by keeping his spirit and mission alive.