SAINT JOHN BOSCO
SAINT JOHN BOSCO
His feast is celebrated on January 31
He is the saint of youth. The saint of workers, the saint of joy, the saint of Mary Help of Christians and the saint of many other things. In the summer of 1815 he was born in Becchi-Piedmont (Italy), of humble but very good Christian parents. From a very young age he had to work hard alongside his holy mother, his mother Margarita, to get the house off the ground. From his holy mother he received a deep Christian education and a great love for the Virgin Mary along with a great respect for the priests. Both things were deeply imprinted on his soul.
Since he was a child he showed to be in possession of uncommon qualities in all senses: He was friendly, sharp, intelligent, hard-working and very tricky with everything he proposed. As a child and later as a young man, but above all as a priest, he worked so hard that it seems almost impossible how in just 72 years of life he was able to accomplish so many important works. Someone has said that he alone worked more than ten men put together of no small qualities.
When he arrived in Castelnuovo, Asti or Murialdo and some puppeteer attracted children and adults during the time of the Mass or the Rosary, he would show up and say: “I do this without making you pay, as well or better than him, but with a condition: That you all come to church with me later”… He did it and dragged the spectators to take part as soon as it was done in the temple. He was thus filling the church with faithful.
We already said that Mama Margarita admired the priests. He saw them as too arrogant and distant from the town, especially from the children, and said: “If I become a priest, as I hope, I will play with the children and I will love them, I will make them sing and with joy I will want to save everyone”. .
When he wore the clerical habit, that holy woman who was his mother admonished him: “You can imagine, my son, the great joy that fills my heart, but please, never dishonor this habit. It would be better if you abandoned it. When you came to the The world consecrated you entirely to the Virgin Mary; when you began your studies I recommended tender devotion to Her; now I urge you to be all of Her… If you become a priest, always recommend and propagate her devotion…”
He had many dreams and all of them very “famous and come true”. He was ordained a priest in 1841 and since then he has not stopped giving shelter and a decent education to as many children that he sees abandoned on the streets. The prayer of a Hail Mary did the miracle and was the first link in this wonderful chain of his ORATORIOS. Hundreds, thousands of abandoned children found warmth, education, food, clothing and loving shelter as in their own home. Mama Margarita and her son went out of their way to help those youngsters who one day would be good Christian parents, other priests, and several Saints, including Saint Dominic Savio.
There were two weapons that D. Bosco used, above all, to train them: The Eucharist and penance. These two sacraments worked wonders in those young people… They even thought she was a little crazy because of the “dreams” that filled her heart and mind in favor of the abandoned… She worked miracles, but it was always She, the VIRGIN HELP, who made them, he said. “It was not me, it was the Virgin Help of Christians who saved you”… “Each brick of this church —he was referring to the great Basilica that began in 1863 as a gift— is a grace of the Virgin Mary”. To continue his WORK in 1857 he founded the Salesians and shortly after the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. They carry your spirit. Before her precious death—January 31, 1888—he saw her work spread throughout various nations of the world…and today she is one of the greatest in the Church.
his body remains incorrupt in the baseMary Help of Christians Church in Turn, Italy
Featured phrases of San Juan Bosco.
Among you, young people, is where I feel good
When I’m away from you I’m missing something
Always be united to the Lord
Here we make holiness consist in always being joyful
Now we have to work, we will rest in paradise
Whoever leaves a house to follow his vocation finds a hundred
Give me souls and keep the rest
We are to make good Christians and honest citizens
Health, wisdom, holiness (these are the after S that Don Bosco insists on)
Never have to say it’s not my turn, but I’m going!
My system is based on religion, reason and love
By giving culture and religious principles we prevent criminals.
More flies are caught with a drop of honey than with a barrel of vinegar
You young people are responsible for your future
The Eucharist and the Virgin are the two columns that must support our lives.
Be devoted to the Pope, it is one of our main devotions
Sadness and melancholy outside the house ma
God sees you
As loving parents let us always correct with kindness
For the young we must be willing to endure any setback and fatigue
Always try to live in the friendship of God
Do good without expecting thanks from anyone, but from God alone
Let’s work as if we never had to die we had to die, and live as if we had to disappear every moment
Forget the favors done, but not the ones received
Let us do everything that is within our reach and the Father of Divine Mercy will supply what is lacking
You will better understand the importance of good, if you consider that your eternal salvation or your damnation depends only on you.
Saving your soul, you will be happy forever; but, if you lose it, you lose everything: soul, body, heaven, God, who is your supreme end… and this, for all eternity.”
Who cares a lot about his body and little about his soul, ends up falling into the arms of the devil.
Sweetness in speaking, acting and reprimanding, wins everything and everyone.”
It is not enough to love children, it is necessary for them to realize that they are loved.
Being good does not consist in not committing any fault, but in knowing how to amend oneself.
To do good you need courage, be willing to suffer any mortification, never make anyone suffer, always be kind
Hide other people’s faults and never make fun of anyone.
Do not wait for the help of Divine Providence, while we are doing nothing. She will move when she has seen our generous efforts for her sake.
The world is full of fools and cunning. The cunning are those who work and suffer to earn heaven; fools are those who live their lives without thinking about eternity.
Never be proud of what you know. The more one knows, the more one is convinced that he is ignorant.
The main causes of so many condemnations are: bad company, bad books and perverse customs.
In all dangers invoke Mary, and I assure you that you will be delivered.
To obtain a special grace, the most effective aspiration is this: Mary Help of Christians, pray for us.
Whoever has a clear conscience has everything.
They are never idle; if you don’t work, work the devil.
Let us be ambitious, but to save our soul with sacrifice.
The thorns of life will turn into flowers for all eternity.
Everything is vanity, except to love and serve God. When will you resolve to give yourself completely to the Lord?
The greatest treasure that can be found in heaven and on earth is in the Tabernacle, because the Owner of all creation lives there.
Jesus awaits you in the Church. Why don’t you visit it often? Apostle of the Eucharist.
If the food of the body must be taken every day, why not the food of the soul?
Communion is a source of energy that should help you throughout your life.
If the food of the body must be taken every day, why not the food of the soul?
May each confession be as sincere as if it were the last of your life.
Don Bosco movie
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