Jan-31: Feast of St Don Bosco
Jan-31: Feast of St Don Bosco
St. John Bosco also known as Don Bosco (Don being the familiar name for a priest in Italy), was born on August 16th, 1815 in a farm located in the hills of Becchi,near Castlenuovo d’Asti (today Castelnuovo Don Bosco) at the bottom of the Italian Alps.
At a very young age, the future saint knew God called him to serve youth. When he was just nine years old, he was inspired by a dream that would change his life forever. He saw a multitude of very poor boys who were fighting and cursing amongst each other. Suddenly a man of majestic appearance emerged and told him: “With meekness and charity, you will conquer these your friends.” The boys then turned into the wild animals that they had been acting like. Once again the man then told John that the field was John’s life’s work and that once John changed and grew in humility and faithfulness, he would see a change in the children as demonstrated in the dream. The wild animals suddenly changed into gentle lambs. A Lady just as majestic appeared and added: “Make yourself humble, strong and robust. At the right time you will understand everything.”
His mother Margherita, a widow, scrimped to send her son to Castelnuovo to attend public school and board with a good family she knew. Alone in the town, John soon learned the hardships of an orphan's life. He worked after school to support himself. Though he was only 15, he labored in a blacksmith shop, then as a tailor, a waiter, a pin-boy in a bowling alley, a shoemaker - anything to get a few pennies and ease his mother's burden.
At school he did exceptionally well. John did three years of high school in one scholastic year and one summer. How he ever succeeded is quite unbelievable, unless we take into account his exceptional memory and intensive study habits.
On June 5, 1841, John aged 26, was ordained to the priesthood in Turin. He celebrated his first Mass the next day in the church of St. Francis of Assisi. "During my first Mass," he said, "I asked for the gift of efficacy of speech, and I think I got it!"
In the 1840s the slums of Turin were overrun by the poverty that resulted inevitably from sweatshop factories of the recent Industrial revolution with their hazardous machinery, child labor, and starvation wages. Walking through these slums, Don Bosco came face to face with his mission. Following his dream, he immediately went out into the streets and came to the rescue of the youth; he began by working with orphan boys that would roam the streets of Turin or would come to him for shelter. On the feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 1841, Don Bosco met Bartholomew Garelli from Asti, a young boy who came to Turin to find work. Three days later he brought along nine more friends and after three months there were twenty-five. By the summer of 1842 there were 80 boys.
In 1846 the first ray of hope broke through the clouds. Don Bosco bought an empty lot and a dilapidated shed in an underdeveloped section of Turin called Valdocco. His mother, known affectionately as Mama Margherita (or Margaret) for her tenderness and love for the children helped run the 'Oratory', making it a home, a school, a church and a playground for hundreds of boys. Don Bosco not only fed the homeless orphans whom he took in but also provided them with educational skills like teaching them how to read, write and helping them find stable jobs by providing them practical training in shoemaking, book binding, printing, carpentry and tailoring. Today the congregation of Don Bosco operates professional training centers and college-preparatory schools throughout the world; both in highly developed countries and in many underdeveloped countries.
In 1854, speaking to the group of young people with whom he founded a religious congregation, Don Bosco said: “Our Lady wants us to found a Society. I have decided that we will call ourselves Salesians. Let’s put ourselves under the protection of St. Francis de Sales.” On the night of December 18, 1859, was born the Congregation of St. Francis de Sales (popularly known today as the "Salesians of Don Bosco" and officially titled the "Society of St. Francis de Sales") and was approved definitively in 1874 by Pope Pius IX. St. Dominic Savio, who died at the tender age of 14, stands out among the most outstanding fruits of his work. Today the Salesians number over 15,700 Brothers and priests.
Another dream-vision opened a new field of endeavor to him. He found himself in a city square, surrounded by a squealing bevy of girls. They were puny things, unkempt, with starvation in their eyes. "Come to us, Father," they cried, "We need you!" So in 1872, he co-founded, together with St. Maria Domenica Mazzarello, the Community of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters). A congregation that would do a job similar to that of St. John Bosco, but with women. By 1875, he would send missionaries to various parts of the world, with the job to work for the poor, young, and create a more equitable, and Christian society. Today there are more than 16,000 Salesian Sisters.
Another dream-vision revealed God's plans for his missions overseas. He found himself looking down upon a screaming horde of savages who were massacring a band of white men. From the distance approached a few missionaries, wearing the garb of their orders. The natives turned upon them with wild satisfaction. Terrified by their blood-curdling yells and inhuman cruelty, Don Bosco gasped to see another group of missionaries coming through the jungles, surrounded by children. They were his own Salesians! Certainly they would fare no better than the others, but the yelling ceased. The wild faces became human again. The natives dropped their weapons and sheepishly looked up into the missionaries' faces. Then they bowed their heads in prayer! The dream began to become a reality in 1875; at the request of Argentina and the Holy See, Don Bosco sent ten missionaries to Buenos Aires to care for Italian immigrants.
John Bosco’s educational philosophy can be summarized in three words: Reason, Religion, and Love (or Kindness). This unique system sculpts a person in body, heart, mind, and spirit. He emphasized strongly that the youth should be taught through love, patience and empathy and not with intimidation or punishment. This system keeps the young person at the center of the whole educational enterprise, fostering their growth and freedom. This system is now globally practiced by many institutes, colleges, and Institutes of Higher Education. It is a preventive system, rejecting corporal punishment and placing students in surroundings removed from the likelihood of committing sin. He advocated frequent reception of the sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion. He combined catechetical training and fatherly guidance, seeking to unite the spiritual life with one’s work, study and play. The Salesians of Don Bosco serve the youth worldwide irrespective of religious differences or social inequality. His values and teachings are present in 4.000 schools, Colleges, technical schools, and youth centers in 133 countries.
Such generosity of spirit could not go unrewarded by God, for whom this priest slaved the 72 years of his life. Besides providing for his work, God gave him the gift of miracles. With his blessing, Don Bosco cured people's disease. After his prayers on their behalf, the deaf heard, the lame walked, and once, a dead boy was raised to life. He had the gift of prophecy. He could read consciences, and used this gift to assist penitents in confession.
Don Bosco’s soul passed to God on January 31, 1888, along with his Salesians praying beside him. In his last prayers that he recited with his brothers: “never forget these three things: devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, devotion to Mary Help of Christians, and devotion to (always be in support and come to the defense of) the Holy Father!”
St. John Bosco was beatified in 1929. On Easter Sunday, April 1, 1934, Pope Pius XI declared Don Bosco a saint; the Pope styled him "a giant of sanctity."
John Paul II conferred on him the title of “Father, Teacher, and Friend of the Youth”.
At a very young age, the future saint knew God called him to serve youth. When he was just nine years old, he was inspired by a dream that would change his life forever. He saw a multitude of very poor boys who were fighting and cursing amongst each other. Suddenly a man of majestic appearance emerged and told him: “With meekness and charity, you will conquer these your friends.” The boys then turned into the wild animals that they had been acting like. Once again the man then told John that the field was John’s life’s work and that once John changed and grew in humility and faithfulness, he would see a change in the children as demonstrated in the dream. The wild animals suddenly changed into gentle lambs. A Lady just as majestic appeared and added: “Make yourself humble, strong and robust. At the right time you will understand everything.”
His mother Margherita, a widow, scrimped to send her son to Castelnuovo to attend public school and board with a good family she knew. Alone in the town, John soon learned the hardships of an orphan's life. He worked after school to support himself. Though he was only 15, he labored in a blacksmith shop, then as a tailor, a waiter, a pin-boy in a bowling alley, a shoemaker - anything to get a few pennies and ease his mother's burden.
At school he did exceptionally well. John did three years of high school in one scholastic year and one summer. How he ever succeeded is quite unbelievable, unless we take into account his exceptional memory and intensive study habits.
On June 5, 1841, John aged 26, was ordained to the priesthood in Turin. He celebrated his first Mass the next day in the church of St. Francis of Assisi. "During my first Mass," he said, "I asked for the gift of efficacy of speech, and I think I got it!"
In the 1840s the slums of Turin were overrun by the poverty that resulted inevitably from sweatshop factories of the recent Industrial revolution with their hazardous machinery, child labor, and starvation wages. Walking through these slums, Don Bosco came face to face with his mission. Following his dream, he immediately went out into the streets and came to the rescue of the youth; he began by working with orphan boys that would roam the streets of Turin or would come to him for shelter. On the feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 1841, Don Bosco met Bartholomew Garelli from Asti, a young boy who came to Turin to find work. Three days later he brought along nine more friends and after three months there were twenty-five. By the summer of 1842 there were 80 boys.
In 1846 the first ray of hope broke through the clouds. Don Bosco bought an empty lot and a dilapidated shed in an underdeveloped section of Turin called Valdocco. His mother, known affectionately as Mama Margherita (or Margaret) for her tenderness and love for the children helped run the 'Oratory', making it a home, a school, a church and a playground for hundreds of boys. Don Bosco not only fed the homeless orphans whom he took in but also provided them with educational skills like teaching them how to read, write and helping them find stable jobs by providing them practical training in shoemaking, book binding, printing, carpentry and tailoring. Today the congregation of Don Bosco operates professional training centers and college-preparatory schools throughout the world; both in highly developed countries and in many underdeveloped countries.
In 1854, speaking to the group of young people with whom he founded a religious congregation, Don Bosco said: “Our Lady wants us to found a Society. I have decided that we will call ourselves Salesians. Let’s put ourselves under the protection of St. Francis de Sales.” On the night of December 18, 1859, was born the Congregation of St. Francis de Sales (popularly known today as the "Salesians of Don Bosco" and officially titled the "Society of St. Francis de Sales") and was approved definitively in 1874 by Pope Pius IX. St. Dominic Savio, who died at the tender age of 14, stands out among the most outstanding fruits of his work. Today the Salesians number over 15,700 Brothers and priests.
Another dream-vision opened a new field of endeavor to him. He found himself in a city square, surrounded by a squealing bevy of girls. They were puny things, unkempt, with starvation in their eyes. "Come to us, Father," they cried, "We need you!" So in 1872, he co-founded, together with St. Maria Domenica Mazzarello, the Community of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters). A congregation that would do a job similar to that of St. John Bosco, but with women. By 1875, he would send missionaries to various parts of the world, with the job to work for the poor, young, and create a more equitable, and Christian society. Today there are more than 16,000 Salesian Sisters.
Another dream-vision revealed God's plans for his missions overseas. He found himself looking down upon a screaming horde of savages who were massacring a band of white men. From the distance approached a few missionaries, wearing the garb of their orders. The natives turned upon them with wild satisfaction. Terrified by their blood-curdling yells and inhuman cruelty, Don Bosco gasped to see another group of missionaries coming through the jungles, surrounded by children. They were his own Salesians! Certainly they would fare no better than the others, but the yelling ceased. The wild faces became human again. The natives dropped their weapons and sheepishly looked up into the missionaries' faces. Then they bowed their heads in prayer! The dream began to become a reality in 1875; at the request of Argentina and the Holy See, Don Bosco sent ten missionaries to Buenos Aires to care for Italian immigrants.
John Bosco’s educational philosophy can be summarized in three words: Reason, Religion, and Love (or Kindness). This unique system sculpts a person in body, heart, mind, and spirit. He emphasized strongly that the youth should be taught through love, patience and empathy and not with intimidation or punishment. This system keeps the young person at the center of the whole educational enterprise, fostering their growth and freedom. This system is now globally practiced by many institutes, colleges, and Institutes of Higher Education. It is a preventive system, rejecting corporal punishment and placing students in surroundings removed from the likelihood of committing sin. He advocated frequent reception of the sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion. He combined catechetical training and fatherly guidance, seeking to unite the spiritual life with one’s work, study and play. The Salesians of Don Bosco serve the youth worldwide irrespective of religious differences or social inequality. His values and teachings are present in 4.000 schools, Colleges, technical schools, and youth centers in 133 countries.
Such generosity of spirit could not go unrewarded by God, for whom this priest slaved the 72 years of his life. Besides providing for his work, God gave him the gift of miracles. With his blessing, Don Bosco cured people's disease. After his prayers on their behalf, the deaf heard, the lame walked, and once, a dead boy was raised to life. He had the gift of prophecy. He could read consciences, and used this gift to assist penitents in confession.
Don Bosco’s soul passed to God on January 31, 1888, along with his Salesians praying beside him. In his last prayers that he recited with his brothers: “never forget these three things: devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, devotion to Mary Help of Christians, and devotion to (always be in support and come to the defense of) the Holy Father!”
St. John Bosco was beatified in 1929. On Easter Sunday, April 1, 1934, Pope Pius XI declared Don Bosco a saint; the Pope styled him "a giant of sanctity."
John Paul II conferred on him the title of “Father, Teacher, and Friend of the Youth”.
“No one did more in the last century for so many people than Don Bosco, not only by his personal influence but also by the apostolate of his marvelous Sons.” – Cardinal Spellman
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