HYDERABAD: 18th May 2005 --  Titled simply 'Annals' and in 4 volumes of some 350 pages each (except for volume 4, with 184 pages), Fr John Lens of the Hyderabad province has made a most valuable contribution to the ordinary Salesian reading public by providing an abridged version in English of Fr Ceria's foundational work of chronicling the Salesian Society from 1841-1921.

    The abridged version is for the 'ordinary' reading public rather than for the scholar.  It is a digest, reducing 2887 pages to something less than half that, and therefore omits a number of the documents found in the original.  It is not a scholarly translation either, by the admission of the translator who readily acknowledges that neither Italian nor English are his native language.  Fr Lens is in fact a Belgian who moved to India as a missionary in 1949 and who is now confessor (and translator extraordinaire) at the novitiate in the Hyderabad province. 

    None of the above disclaimers, if this is what they are, should deter the ordinary reader. In fact the translator/abridger's English reads easily. The Annals of the Society are an exceptionally valuable source for every Salesian.  What a shame that so few over so many years have not had access to them simply because they could not read Italian.  Fr Lens has done the English-speaking Salesian world a huge favour. 

    There are minor blemishes in the work, for the purist.  They would hardly bother the majority of readers.  'The pest' is a possible variant for 'The Plague', though it has to be said that the latter is far more familiar to most readers of English.  Reference to the six year term of various Rectors Major as their 'Rectorate' simply emphasises the need we have in English to quickly finalise a glossary of our shared 'Salesiolect' if one may coin that term.  'Term of office as Rector Major' is longer but far more descriptive of the reality that Italian expresses by 'rettorato'.    There are other blemishes of the kind, especially at the beginning of the first volume, but they do not deserve the luxury of distraction or detraction.

    At a time when the English-speaking Salesian world is asking for number and quality of Salesian sources in English, Fr Lens' work is timely.  The set of 4 volumes retails at US 35.00 with a 10% discount for 5 sets and above.  Email contact is dbinh@sancharnet.in or postal address Don Bosco Provincial House, Bosco Nagar, Himayatsagar Road, Hyderabad-30, Andhra Pradesh.

    At the very least a copy of the set could find its way into Houses of Formation but there is every reason why it would be just as valuable in every House.