Discernment and clairvoyance
He was a priest and pedagogue without equal who consecrated his life to the young people of Turin; with him education is a matter of joyful confidence and careful freedom. He was the first to establish a combination of intellectual and professional training to prevent delinquency, and he renewed the pedagogy of his time! In fact, the Salesian schools that today spread throughout the world are his work. Don Bosco had a loving and mystical temperament, besides that, he was passionate about prayer and could read hearts. His discernment made him the patron saint of youth, and Heaven would make him his messenger in times of persecution against the Church. On May 30, 1862, he received the famous dream of the Three Whitenesses to save Christianity: the Eucharist, the Immaculate Conception, and the Pope.
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Don Bosco’s biography
A love extended towards youth
John Melchior Boscheither John Bosco He was born on August 16, 1815 in the province of Asti, near Turin, in a very modest peasant family, so he grew up on his parents’ farm. From an early age he showed great charisma and a great spiritual vocation: inspired by the virgin mary, Juan attracted and gathered children his age to pray together, entertaining them with prayer turns and sermons. Later, he was called to join the orders and worked very hard to pay for his studies, doing different jobs here and there (he was a carpenter, shoemaker, etc). In 1841 he was ordained a priest and later became known as “Don Bosco”.
Industrialization brought with it certain damage to the population. In this context, the city of Turin (where Don Bosco worked) saw poverty and misery grow in its neighborhoods, especially among the youngest. They were abandoned, hungry, adrift, some were even criminals and others were about to be… Faced with this situation, Don Bosco decided to act when he felt deeply moved by the misery of these young people. Indeed, his encounter with a wandering young boy was a defining moment in the life of the young priest. One day in December 1841, Barthélemy Garelli, a 16-year-old mason, entered the church of San Francisco de Asís, but the sacristan quickly chased him away with a broom. Nevertheless, having heard the conversation, Juan Bosco, went after him to comfort him, and realized that Bartholomew was illiterate and an orphan. That was how Don Bosco welcomed him to teach him catechism. Later, Bartholomew brought his friends to be educated by the priest. It was like that Saint John Bosco he founded his first chapel in the Valdocco district. There he opened a school in 1846 and a youth center with his mother. That was a place where children found shelter and education. Over time, his activity continued to grow and Juan Bosco decided to call “Salesians” to its youth and other members of the organization, in honor of Saint Francis de Sales.
conversion of hearts
This work of adaptation was limited only to young people, since the Holy Father’s initiative was not to everyone’s liking. In fact, certain inhabitants of the city of Turin did not see children with the same benevolent gaze as Don Bosco and mistrusted the clergy. In addition, Don Bosco’s motivations aroused suspicion, and even the father became the victim of attacks.
In 1854 a cholera epidemic broke out in the city of Turin. The infection spread rapidly, and the city was soon overwhelmed. In this context of crisis, Don Bosco and his Salesians offered to assist the sick, their families and the hospital staff, and at that time the city was marked by the incredible dedication of these young people. This is how they recognized the value and importance of the teachings of Juan Bosco.
In December 1859, Don Bosco founded the Society of Saint Francis de Sales, along with 17 of his young men. Subsequently, continued to carry out his work with the creation of the foundation of the salesian sisters “Daughters of Mary Help of Christians” in 1872. In this way, she continued to open a large number of associationslike the Union of Salesian Cooperators in 1875, which brings together all kinds of people (lay and religious), who want to commit themselves to the education of young people and contribute to improving their living conditions. The internationalization of his initiative begins in France and Latin America, before spreading throughout the world.
After long years of devotion and love for young people, Don Bosco ends up dying in Turin on January 31, 1888. In 1934, he was proclaimed a Saint by Pope Pius XI. One hundred years after his death, John Paul II honored him by declaring him the Father and educator of youth.
There is no doubt that the great work of Saint John Bosco marked the entire world and continues to leave traces on present generations.
The pedagogy and heritage of Don Bosco
“The pedagogy rests entirely on affection, on charity; this charity that describes Paul’s word in the epistle to the Corinthians: love is patient, endures everything, expects everything.” -Saint John Bosco.
The profoundly humanistic and loving vision of Saint John Bosco aroused the admiration of young people, to whom he offered all his attention and services while he was alive. His goal was always to help the most disadvantaged to get up, that is, to give them confidence, patience and love instead of condemning or punishing them. Thus, the education of children must always be accompanied by affection and benevolence: it is not enough to love, the young person must feel loved.
In the first place, the charm of the holy priest impressed the young, the suspicious and “timid” who had been rejected for too long, who, seeing the virtues of Don Bosco, such as the gift of dialogue and good sense of humor, they allowed themselves to be approached by this great man of God. Saint John Bosco is the patron saint of magiciansbecause he himself used tricks and illusions to attract these crowds of young people.
Secondly, the educational system of the Don Bosco schools offered young people the possibility of a future, since it trained them in specific professional skills: carpentry, printing, shoemaking and other craft activities necessary in an age of imminent industrialization. This trust in young people built different social and citizen references, such is the case of the commitment shown by the Salesians during the 1954 epidemic.
Today, the work of Saint Don Bosco continues to develop, even after his death. Today, the Salesian network continues to work in various schools, social institutes and youth centers to help and welcome young people in need, and help them build life projects. On the other hand, it should be noted that a good number of associations, whose vocation is the protection of youth, bear the name of the Holy Father, in honor of his pedagogy and dedication to young people.