Saint John Bosco
John Bosco was born on August 16, 1815, to a poor farming family in Becchi, a small suburb of Turin,
Italy. The child grew to be the "Beloved Apostle of
Youth". One of John Bosco's earliest recollections occurred at age two. He remembers his mother telling him upon his father's death , "You have no father now". Although he stated that he could not remember what his father was like , his death must have had a profound effect on him and perhaps sparked his desire to help troubled boys, many of whom were fatherless.
I cannot say that I have suffered the loss of a close family member and can only imagine the effect it could have on my life. From the time he was a young child, John Bosco seemed to have a clear understanding of God's ways; and what he didn't understand was often made clear to him by his mother "Mama Margaret". She seemed to know, even at an early age, that her son was destined to do good in the name of God. She taught him by example from an early age and continued to support him and all his good works throughout his life. She eventually joined him at he Oratory and became "Mother" to hundreds of boys. Her positive influence was felt by all of those boys. It was almost as if the Blessed Mother worked through her good example and words of wisdom. Mama Margaret warned her son to "beware of bad boys you may meet on your journey through life". and asked him one day, "Why do you go with such bad boys?"
How many mothers have echoed similar words? How confident John Bosco was in the power of his good example when he replied, "If I am with them they are better and do not say bad words". Wouldn't this world be a better place if we all had such confidence and faith in the power our own good example.
As a young child, John Bosco had the ability to attract young boys. He went out of his way to study
"traveling show" folk to learn acrobatic and sleight of hand tricks to entertain the boys who would
Italy. The child grew to be the "Beloved Apostle of
Youth". One of John Bosco's earliest recollections occurred at age two. He remembers his mother telling him upon his father's death , "You have no father now". Although he stated that he could not remember what his father was like , his death must have had a profound effect on him and perhaps sparked his desire to help troubled boys, many of whom were fatherless.
I cannot say that I have suffered the loss of a close family member and can only imagine the effect it could have on my life. From the time he was a young child, John Bosco seemed to have a clear understanding of God's ways; and what he didn't understand was often made clear to him by his mother "Mama Margaret". She seemed to know, even at an early age, that her son was destined to do good in the name of God. She taught him by example from an early age and continued to support him and all his good works throughout his life. She eventually joined him at he Oratory and became "Mother" to hundreds of boys. Her positive influence was felt by all of those boys. It was almost as if the Blessed Mother worked through her good example and words of wisdom. Mama Margaret warned her son to "beware of bad boys you may meet on your journey through life". and asked him one day, "Why do you go with such bad boys?"
How many mothers have echoed similar words? How confident John Bosco was in the power of his good example when he replied, "If I am with them they are better and do not say bad words". Wouldn't this world be a better place if we all had such confidence and faith in the power our own good example.
As a young child, John Bosco had the ability to attract young boys. He went out of his way to study
"traveling show" folk to learn acrobatic and sleight of hand tricks to entertain the boys who would