Tuesday, May 06, 2008

The Saints and the Eucharist: St. Don Bosco

Don Bosco's Dream
Recently, I rediscovered a little book my friend in New Jersey Fr. Ignatius, gave me. Saintly Guides for the Eucharistic Year complied by the Holy Family Cenacle of Little Falls, New Jersey.

The following are interesting little tidbits about today's Saint of the Holy Eucharist, St. John Bosco:

1. Early in childhood our Lord and His blessed mother inspired him to rescue young boys from evil ways.

2. The boys under Don Bosco's care learned about the Catholic faith "under a remarkable educational system based upon frequent confession and daily Mass."

3. In 1862 Don Bosco had a vision (depicted in the above painting) of the dangers threatening the Church. Since most everyone is familiar with the story I will skip to the end of the dream:
"Suddenly two marble columns surged from the depths of the stormy ocean, one surmounted by a monstrance holding the Blessed Sacrament - "Salvation of Believers" and the other by a statue of Mary Immaculate "Help of Christians."
4. When the Church is battered by enemies from within and outside, Don Bosco taught that salvation can only come from three sources:

- Jesus in the Eucharist

- Mary Help of Christians

- The Pope, Christ's vicar on each

Born: 1815

Died: 1888

Sainthood: 1934

Feast: January 31st

3 comments:

  1. Anonymous2:57 PM

    Esther, I always love this picture of Saint John Bosco. Father Randall has taked about this prophecy many times.

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  2. Thanks for posting on Don Bosco! You did so on St. Dominic Savio's feast day! Dominic is still the youngest canonized saint who was not a martyr!! As a student at Don Bosco's oratory Dominic grew to the heights of sanctity! Let's continue to pray for more holy young people with the joy of St. John Bosco! Keep smiling and God bless! Padre Steve, SDB

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  3. Ed, have you read the book on other of St. John Bosco's prophesies?

    Thanks for that tidbit about St. Dominic Savio Padre. I understand there were other saints who were St. John Bosco's students.

    ReplyDelete